England eke out two-run lead

BRIDGETOWN: Graham Thorpe compiled a magnificent unbeaten 119 for England to eke out a narrow first innings lead and gain momentum over the West Indies on day two of the third cricket Test yesterday. Left-hander Thorpe anchored England to 226 all out, and a first-innings lead of two runs. At stumps, Steve Harmison bowled a reckless Chris Gayle to have the West Indies 21 for one, and a  lead of 19. Daren Ganga on 5 not out and captain Brian Lara, on 1, carried the home team’s hopes into the third day.  The home team’s fast bowlers, led by four wickets for 70 from Fidel Edwards, were impressive throughout the first two sessions, but 34-year-old Thorpe squeezed the best out of the lower order as England battled from peril at 155-8 to add 71 runs for their last two wickets.

Simon Jones and Harmison combined to spend two hours at the crease as Thorpe pushed onto his 13th century in his 86th Test. The Surrey man struck 13 boundaries, including one cracking straight drive off the second new ball to bring up his milestone. He faced 217 balls and took 5 hours, 12 minutes in scoring his second straight century at Bridgetown. The early exchanges went the West Indies’ way. Edwards, who had claimed an early wicket on Thursday, further restricted England when it resumed at 20-1. Mark Butcher (5) added just two runs before his attempted square cut was caught at first slip by Chris Gayle.

It was a crucial boost for the local team, which two balls earlier had been deflated when Ramnaresh Sarwan missed Michael Vaughan’s edge at second slip off Tino Best. That miss was not to prove too costly as Edwards again struck to spare Sarwan’s blushes. England skipper Vaughan, 12 overnight and when he was dropped, progressed to 17 before he got a thin nick on a pull at a short delivery from Edwards. Wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs held a sharp catch over his head as England slipped to 33-3. Once Edwards came out of the attack, the experienced Nasser Hussain and Thorpe slowly dragged England out of the hole. Their fourth-wicket stand was worth 32, and they were within sight of taking lunch together when Corey Collymore broke through. He beat Hussain’s drive between bat and pad, and leg stump was flattened. It was Collymore’s first wicket of the series and England lunched uneasily at 73 for four.

Best removed the dangerous Andrew Flintoff after the break as the allrounder lofted a catch to extra cover. Edwards then returned to leave England tottering on 119 for six as wicketkeeper Chris Read was trapped plumb leg before on the back foot. Thorpe and Ashley Giles added 28 for the seventh wicket and were threatening more when Pedro Collins made two critical interventions. Giles fluently stroked 11 off 24 balls before Collins induced an edge for substitute Antonio Mayers to gobble up at third slip. Just before tea, Matthew Hoggard was undone by a Collins inswinger that caught him plainly leg before wicket.

The final session was all England as Thorpe began to dominate as another large, predominantly English crowd got behind their team. Left-hander Jones restrained his usual belligerence and lasted more than 14 overs and 64 minutes in adding 32 with Thorpe. He was finally a Best victim as Sarwan snapped up a firm on-drive at short leg. The second new ball was expected to bring a swift end to the innings, but Thorpe, 10 away from his hundred when joined by last man Harmison, was now rampant. Harmison survived six deliveries before Thorpe completed a memorable milestone with two boundaries off three balls from Edwards.

The first was a top-edged pull, but the second was as authentic as any of his boundaries. Advancing down the track, he smacked a straight drive to spark a standing ovation as he peeled off his helmet to celebrate. Collins finally ended the 12-over, 39-run resistance when he clipped Harmison’s off stump for three. But England’s spirits had been lifted, and Harmison returned to give them further cause for joy with the spectacular dismissal of Gayle. The left-hander spanked the lanky Harmison for three successive leg side fours before he swung wildly and lost his off stump trying for a fourth boundary to a full length delivery. (AP)