Cook century defies Lord's gloom
Alastair Cook
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Thursday, 17, May 2007 10:19
An unbeaten 102 from Alastair Cook helped England to 200-3 at stumps on the first day of the Lord's Test match against the West Indies.
Cook carried his bat throughout the first day, facing 173 balls and hitting nine boundaries in an innings which puts the home side firmly on top after day one of the series.
Windies skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan put England into bat after a delayed start but 22-year-old Cook put on 85 with stand-in captain Andrew Strauss in the 22 overs possible before lunch.
The pair batted fluently in defiance of the gloomy, overcast London sky but two quick strikes from Daren Powell after the interval quickly changed the complexion of the match.
First Strauss was out for 33 after offering a straightforward catch to Devon Smith at backward point, with just three additional runs added to the lunch score.
Then Owais Shah, drafted in at the last minute to cover for injured all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, got a nick to third slip after looking unimpressive for just six runs.
England looked under pressure on 103-2 but Kevin Pietersen's 26 helped steady the ship, beginning a steady 59-run partnership with Cook.
The pair were quick to take the light when offered it by umpires Asad Rauf and Rudi Koertzen. On resuming after the tea interval the partnership ended when Pietersen offered Smith his second catch of the day off the bowling of Corey Collymore.
Cook had time to complete his fifth Test ton and he and Paul Collingwood (21 not out) took England to the close in a promising position.
Despite Powell's 2-52 from 18 overs England have gained the early advantage on the first day of a long summer of international cricket.