Collingwood and Prior tons put England in control
Paul Collingwood struck his ninth Test century
Also In The News
|
Andrew Strauss hit his third century of the series as England dominated the opening day of the final Test against the West Indies in Trinidad. |  |
Saturday, 07, Mar 2009 09:22
England put themselves in a dominant position in the fifth Test against the West Indies as they declared on 546/6 in their first innings.
Paul Collingwood struck a defiant 161 and Matt Prior marked his promotion to number six with a masterful 131 not out.
But this Test, like the ones in Barbados and Antigua, looks ominously set for a high-scoring draw as the West Indies went along at over five runs an over to reach 92/1 on a flat deck. Chris Gayle smashed 49 and Devon Smith added 28 before falling to Monty Panesar.
England added only five runs to their overnight total when they lost Andrew Strauss for 142. The England skipper missed-judged a delivery from Fidel Edwards. The West Indian bowler got a delivery to jag-back off the seam and bowled Strauss behind his legs.
Things got worse for England as the returning Owais Shah, who retired hurt yesterday, came back to the crease but lasted only one over and unsurprisingly he was run out. The Middlesex batsman is a poor runner between the wicket and he tried to go for a suicidal single and was out by a yard.
With a long tail, England were in danger of undoing all their good work from the first day as the two quick wickets saw them on 268-4. But luckily Collingwood and Prior managed to steady the ship with a solid partnership and they were also helped with some dismal Windies bowling.
Gayle decided to bowl part-timers Brendan Nash and Ryan Hinds for much of the session and the England batsmen took full advantage.
Prior was his usual attacking self and played a number of expansive shots on his way to a half-century and Collingwood went on to bring up his second hundred of the series in the last over of the morning session as England plundered 117 runs in the session.
The West Indies continued to baffle in the afternoon session and looked to have given up hope of bowling England out. The likes of Gayle, Hinds and Nash continued to bowl and Prior and Collingwood batted with ease and built a huge total.
Prior, who got a lifeline when he was dropped at slip on 76, showed that he has the qualities to bat at number six for England as he brought up his century in just 157 balls.
Collingwood went onto his 150 as the pair shared in a 200-run partnership. The Durham batsman was out for 161 as he was out lbw to Lionel Baker. England eventually declared on a massive 546/6 with Prior remaining unbeaten on 131.
England went in with five bowlers, but it was the same old story as the West Indies batsmen dominated. Gayle thumped Swann for two huge sixes on his way to 49, but the Windies lost the wicket of Smith who was bowled by Panesar.