England fightback in see-saw Test

LONDON: West Indies crumbled to 161 for nine in their second innings, a lead of only 226, after a fluctuating fourth day of the third Test against England at Old Trafford yesterday. Andrew Flintoff, Ashley Giles and Steve Harmison all took three wickets as England grabbed back control of a match that West Indies had bossed earlier in the day when the hosts were dismissed for 330, thanks to Dwayne Bravo’s six wickets. West Indies had been looking for quick runs to give them time to dismiss England after Friday’s play was washed out but their hopes of building an insurmountable lead were left in tatters. The hosts will now fancy their chances of chasing a victory target today and making it 3-0 in the four-match series.

Brian Lara became the fourth and quickest player to score 10,000 Test runs but was out just two balls after reaching the milestone, gloving a fierce Flintoff delivery to Andrew Strauss at slip for seven. Only Ramnaresh Sarwan made a half century but he fell for 60, edging Harmison to Marcus Trescothick in the slips late on in the extended final session. When bad light stopped play at the close, only tailenders Fidel Edwards and Corey Collymore remained. England’s batsmen had earlier been on course to reach first innings parity with West Indies, who made 395 for nine declared, before Bravo removed Graham Thorpe, Geraint Jones and Giles in quick succession after lunch.

The 20-year-old Trinidadian, who only made his debut in the first Test defeat at Lord’s and has been a rare bright spot for the West Indies on tour, finished with Test-best figures of six for 55. Thorpe made a brave 114, withstanding a torrid short spell from fast bowler Edwards before Bravo induced a loose drive to Lara in the slips. The left hander suffered a hairline fracture to a little finger when struck by one fierce Edwards ball. He soldiered on and is expected to bat in the second innings but may be doubtful for the final Test starting at the Oval on Thursday. England resumed on 233 for five with nightwatchman Matthew Hoggard (23) doing well to hang around for the first hour and a half to frustrate the tourists. (Reuters)