Bopara shines in the Caribbean
87-run partnership helps England to 405-4 at lunch on day two of Test
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Friday, 27, Feb 2009 10:38
Ravi Bopara hit his maiden Test ton as England continued their dominance on day two of the fourth Test against the West Indies in Barbados.
The all-rounder hit 104 and shared century partnerships with Paul Collingwood (94) and Tim Ambrose (76 not out) as England declared on 600-6.
James Anderson then removed dangerman Chris Gayle as the Windies finished on 85-1 at stumps.
England had resumed on 301-3 but suffered an early setback when Kevin Pietersen was trapped lbw with only 17 added as the tourists look to level the series.
The West Indies handed Bopara a lifeline when Jerome Taylor dropped a towering catch with the batsman on four and though he received a fiery Fidel Edwards bouncer directly into the grill of his helmet, the Essex man composed himself and created a fine innings.
He reached his half-century after lunch with a nudge off his pads for a boundary.
At the other end, Collingwood was finding it just as easy as he moved onto 96. But in a moment of madness, the Durham player swung wildly at an Edwards delivery with Brendon Nash taking the catch at deep point.
But that was the only moment to celebrate for the Windies in the session as Ambrose brought up his third Test century before tea, while Bopara moved onto 88.
And 16 minutes after tea, Bopara brought up his century with a single off Jerome Taylor, though he departed in the next over after smashing a shot off Edwards straight into the hands of Taylor on the boundary
edge.
Despite Ambrose moving with 24 runs of joining Bopara and Strauss on three figures, the England skipper declared when the 600 milestone was reached.
And the tourists purple patch continued with the ball after Anderson trapped Gayle lbw for six, after the decision was referred to the TV umpire.
The hosts survived the remaining overs with Ramnaresh Sarwan unbeaten on 40 as they bid to avoid the follow-on.