Panesar strikes
As England pile pressure on free-scoring Windies:
Jonathan GASKIN
Monty Panesar gave England a much-needed breakthrough in their bid
for a series-levelling win over West Indies, after Paul Collingwood and
Matt Prior hit hundreds to bat them into a formidable position in the
fifth and final Test on Saturday.
Spinner Panesar removed Devon Smith for 28, as West Indies finished
on 92 for one, replying to England’s first innings total of 546 for six
declared when stumps were drawn on the second day at Queen’s Park Oval.
West Indies, 1-0 up in the series, will begin the third day 454 runs
behind.
Collingwood hit his second hundred of the series with 161, while
Prior’s career-best, undefeated 131 allowed the pair to establish a new
England record of 218 for the fifth wicket in Tests against West Indies.
Collingwood reached his ninth Test hundred from 206 balls in the over
before lunch, when he paddled Brendan Nash to deep fine leg for a
single, then Prior got to his second Test hundred from 156 balls in the
last hour before tea, when he cut Ryan Hinds through backward point for
two.
Rapid start
But England’s hopes of wobbling West Indies with a few early
breakthroughs hit a snag, when skipper Chris Gayle and Smith tucked into
the visitors’ fast bowlers to give the home team a rapid start.
Two languid drives from Gayle through mid-off - one off James
Anderson, the other off Stuart Broad - were memorable, and he also twice
deposited off-spin bowler Graeme Swann over the long-on boundary for
sixes. But Panesar, brought into the attack for the third-last over,
struck a vital blow late in the day, when he spun past the probing bat
of Smith, playing defensively forward, and bowled him.
Earlier, Collingwood and Prior carried the visitors to 372 for four
at lunch after West Indies removed England captain Andrew Strauss, for a
fine 142, and Owais Shah (33) in the first half-hour of the day.
Collingwood batted steadily, but it was Prior, playing his first
innings after his week of paternity leave, that led the counter-attack,
reaching his 50 from 52 balls, when he cut Hinds to deep cover for a
single.
The pair were brought together with England on 268 for four, and West
Indies felt justified about their decision to take the second new ball
immediately. Strauss was bowled around his legs for 142, when he moved
too far inside the line to flick Fidel Edwards, following an innings
that lasted close to 6-1/4 hours in which he struck 11 boundaries from
271 balls.
Shah, who had retired hurt on 29 with severe cramps in his hands the
previous day, returned to continue his innings with a scintillating
straight drive for four off Lionel Baker before he was run out for 33,
failing to beat substitute fielder Dwayne Bravo’s direct hit at the
bowler’s end.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Sunday,AFP
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