England scent 1st Test victory

LONDON: Captain Michael Vaughan yesterday gathered his second century of the match as England charted a winning course on day four of the opening cricket Test against the West Indies at Lord’s. Vaughan’s unbeaten 101 and Andrew Flintoff’s brutal 58 off 42 balls allowed England, 71 without loss overnight, to declare at 325 for five in their second innings at the stroke of tea. The West Indies, facing a mammoth victory target of 478, limped to close at 114 for three despite a sparkling 81 from opener Chris Gayle. Captain Brian Lara, undefeated on 11, carried the visitors’ resistance into the final day. Shivnarine Chanderpaul, following an unbeaten 128 in the first innings, was four not out. Vaughan, with his 13th century in his 47th match, became only the third man to complete centuries in each innings in 107 Tests at the famous venue. He joined the late West Indian legend George Headley (in 1939) and former England captain Graham Gooch (against India in 1990) on the illustrious list.
 
Earlier, Pedro Collins dismissed both England openers in an encouraging morning session for the visitors. The left-arm swing bowler struck after 20 minutes when his inswinging yorker uprooted the middle stump of Marcus Trescothick. England stuttered to 117 for three when Robert Key, following his first innings 221, was run out for 15 after a mix-up with Vaughan. Chanderpaul’s direct hit of the striker’s end from cover found Key yards out.   He and left-hander Thorpe steadied the ship and lunched at 165 for three.  The pair stretched their fourth wicket partnership to 116 as England took control in the second session. Thorpe contributed 38 off 73 balls before Gayle claimed a return catch off his spooned drive. The declaration arrived as soon as Flintoff edged a swish at Collins to the wicket-keeper. England struck early as Ashley Giles removed Devon Smith (six) in his first over. The left-hander was LBW as he played across the line. Sarwan (four) completed a lousy match when he was pinned in front for the second time shuffling across his stumps against Matthew Hoggard.

Gayle responded to the crisis of 35 for two with some majestic strokes, mainly through his favoured off side. He survived two chances as he and Steve Harmison locked horns in an absorbing battle late in the day. The first life brought up his half century off 53 balls with his eighth four as an edged cut flew at catchable height past a leaden-footed Geraint Jones behind the stumps. In the same over, Graham Thorpe failed to cling onto a right-handed effort in the gully as Gayle opened his shoulders. Harmison spectacularly gained his revenge when Gayle seemed set for three figures. The England spearheads fast yorker plucked out the Jamaica’s leg stump via inside edge. Gayle smashed 13 fours and a six off 88 balls in 101 minutes. Chanderpaul was lucky to survive to the end as he gloved a catch to short leg off Giles but umpire Rudi Koertzen wrongly ruled in favour of the batsman.