Harmison destroys WI again

Just before the lunch interval, the West Indies cricketers were 100 for no loss and memories of their capitulation in the First Test were quickly fading away. However their tormentor at sabina park in jamaica, lanky Durham fast bowler Steve Harmison returned to hunt them again as they lost eight wickets for 89 runs. The home team closed the first day of the second Cable and Wireless Test at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain on 189 for eight.

SCORES: West Indies 189/8 vs England. Harmison ripped out the heart of the West Indies batting to finish with five for 48, as the batting order collapsed in all too familiar fashion on a rain-affected first day. West Indies trailing 0-1 in the series won the toss and decided to take first strike on a wicket that appeared to hold no secrets. Openers Chris Gayle and Devon Smith batted very well and delighted the die-hard fans who turned up, equally matched by their English counterparts. Jamaican hard-hitter Gayle in particular was in great form striking the ball cleanly and into the gaps with regularity. He posted his half century of just 58 balls with 10 fours and a six of spinner Ashley Giles. Inform Grenadian batsman Smith on the other hand was solid and a good foil for his partner  who pounced on anything wayward from the English bowlers.

The duo posted their second century stand opening stand in Test cricket but both soon fell minutes before the lunch break. Harmison who was ordinary in his first spell from the Media Centre End was switched to the Pavilion End and soon struck. He induced an edge from a free-swinging Gayle which wicket keeper Chris Read snapped up easily after a well-played 62. Smith followed soon after trapped leg before wicket for 35. But Harmison was not finished and on the stroke of lunch he removed Brian Lara for a duck serving the west indies captain  a vicious bouncer to head which he could only lamely fend to Giles in the gully. It was the second consecutive duck by the left-hander.

Lunch was taken with the West Indies 110 for three and the fans were left in a sombre mood  pondering the team’s fate at the interval. Rain then intervened during the break washing away 83 minutes of play and on the resumption Simon Jones got into the act bowling Shivnarine Chanderpaul behind his back for two. Harmison, his confidence returning removed the dangerous Dwayne Smith for 16, inclusive of a six.  Smith, the Barbadian who scored a century in his first Test in South Africa two months ago batted without any inhibitions, which is his natural game which ultimately proved his undoing,  caught at square leg trying to hit the ball out of the ground. One run later, Harmison grabbed another wicket when West Indies vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan fell for a scratchy 21.

Before the close the West Indies lost two other wickets with Matthew Hoggard dismissing Tino Best for one and Adam Sanford was comically run out, also for one. At 165 for eight, it looked as if West Indies would have been bowled out before the close but the ever reliable elder statesman Ridley Jacobs and the recalled Pedro Collins kept the English at bay providing hope that the regional team can cross the psychologal barrier of 200 runs today. Jacobs with his forthright methods has realised 29 runs by the close and Collins is undefeated on six. The two have so far added 24 runs for the ninth wicket. Play gets underway at 9.30 am today to make up for time lost due to rain yesterday.