Chanders and WI lower order resist

A fighting hundred from Shivnarine Chanderpaul got the West Indies past the follow-on target of 369 and eventually to a total of 416 all out, keeping them in the 1st NPower Test at Lord's. Chanderpaul's unbeaten innings of 128 was his 11th Test match hundred and a crucial one given his poor form in international matches on tour thus far.

Assisting the Guyanese left-handers in his effort were debutant Dwayne Bravo (44), wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs (32) and allrounder Omari Banks (45). Bravo resumed on 30 not out and ticked on to 44 before receiving a snorting, sharp rising delivery from Simon Jones, which he nicked to Geraint Jones behind the stumps.

Jacobs then entered with the score at 264/5 and received a few short balls in his initial stead. A thunderous pull for a boundary was Jacobs' eventual response after ducking under the first couple of tests. He progressed nicely to 32 and saw Chanderpaul to 98 before driving at a Hoggard offering and being well-held by Jones in front of first slip.

Still some 105 runs from the follow-on target, Omari Banks was made to come to the crease under pressure. His incumbent partner, Chanderpaul took his time but ultimately pushed behind square for two runs, diving full stretch into the striker's end and reaching his hundred. The century took 192 balls and saw some 14 fours hit.

Banks looked out of sorts initially as Hoggard peppered him with a trio of short balls. Although not at great pace (around 85 mph), the blonde seamer managed to hit Banks on the shoulder, then brush past his chest as he swayed away and finally hit him in the groin area. The next ball was pitched up and Banks attempted to drive away, totally mistiming the shot and sending the ball to midon. Hoggard came in again and Banks got off the mark as he drove another fuller delivery gloriously down the ground to the ropes.

Banks then played two more well-timed straight drives off Harmison, then slashed Hoggard through the covers and pushed Giles square of the wicket for a couple more fours. However, Giles soon placed the right-hander into his second period of struggles, having him dropped by Graham Thorpe and regularly troubling him with his probing over-the-wicket line and length. Not long after Giles enticed him to go for a lofted off-drive and agonizingly saw Harmison dropped the second catch off his bowling. The next delivery Banks made certain he got a hold of the ball, smashing Giles for six.

Continuing with intent, Banks smacked Giles over cover and then over midwicket in his next over. Rather ironically, the man to break the 72-run partnership was the man who entered the Test as a specialist batsman - Andrew Flintoff bowled Omari Banks for 45. The very next ball Flintoff spectacularly knocked back Tino Best's offstump, setting himself up to bowl a potential hat-trick delivery to Collins. Running in, Flintoff delivered a rather inncuous length delivery which Collins pushed away calmly to avoid the hat-trick. He then continued his stint of sharp bowling and struck Collins unsuccessfully on the pad.

No cease to the stumps flying and a couple of overs after, Flintoff bowled Collins (0) too. The swift collapse reached completion with the dismissal of Edwards to a wild swipe and a miss, bowled for 5. The West Indies 416 all out and trailing by 152 on first innings.

Chanderpaul's 128 not out took 270 balls with 15 fours. Flintoff finished with 3/25 and Giles with 4/129.

Trescothick (34 not out) started England's reply with a couple of fours off the first two balls. It was just the start of an onslaught ending with England at 71/0 at stumps. First innings centurion, Andrew Strauss didn't look at his best, but fought to 27 not out at the end of play. Tino Best left the field with a thigh injury, having bowled just 3 overs for 14 runs.

England will start day four leading by a substantial 223 runs with all 10 second innings wickets in hand.

Match Summary:

England 1st innings 568 ao (121.4 overs)
RWT Key 221, AJ Strauss 137, MP Vaughan 103
PT Collins 4/113, DJJ Bravo 3/82, OAC Banks 2/121

West Indies 1st innings 416 ao (116.4 overs)
S Chanderpaul 128 not out, CH Gayle 66, DS Smith/OAC Banks 45, DJJ Bravo 44
A Giles 4/129, A Flintoff 3/25, MJ Hoggard 2/89

England 2nd innings 71/0 (22 overs)
ME Trescothick 34 not out, AJ Strauss 27 not out

Posted by Liam