West Indies collapse against England

AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

LONDON: West Indies were left facing an uphill struggle in the first Test against England at Lord's here today after a dramatic top-order collapse saw the tourists lose three wickets for no runs.

The West Indies were 36-3 in their second innings at tea on the third day, still 119 runs behind England's first innings 398. Their familiar flurry of early wickets again left Shivnarine Chanderpaul having to contemplate another salvage operation when he came in at No 5.

The tourists had survived a couple of scares in seeing openers Adrian Barath and Kieran Powell put on 36. But in sight of getting through a tricky pre-tea session wicketless, Barath was undone by Tim Bresnan's fifth ball, an excellent leg-cutter he could only edge through to wicket-keeper Matt Prior on 24.

Powell was far more culpable in his exit for eight, languidly top-edging a pull off Stuart Broad to Ian Bell, running round from deep square leg. And worse followed when Kirk Edwards was run out for nought. Darren Bravo nudged the ball in front of square but turned down a single with Edwards half-way down the pitch and Jonathan Bairstow threw down the stumps at the bowler's end from cover-point. West Indies had lost three wickets for no runs in nine balls, with Bravo nought not out at tea.

Earlier, an improved West Indies bowling display saw four England wickets fall in Saturday's first session after the hosts resumed on 259-3. But a ninth-wicket partnership of 55 off 47 after lunch between Bell and Graeme Swann took the match away from the West Indies, who ended up being 155 behind on first innings.

Nevertheless there were encouraging signs for the West Indies in the form of debutant fast bowler Shannon Gabriel, who took 3-60, with fellow paceman Kemar Roach returning with 3-108.