Rain plays spoilsport for England
Ryan Sidebottom claimed a six-wicket haul
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Sunday, 27, May 2007 08:50
Rain spoiled England's hopes of victory on day three of the second Test against West Indies.
Showers prevented any play at Headingley with England needing eight more Windies' wickets to go ahead in the series.
There was a brief moment of optimism after lunch when the covers were removed and the players began warming up but the rain started again, forcing play to be suspended.
But England still have two days remaining with the weather expected to improve tomorrow.
Michael Vaughan's side declared yesterday on 570-7 after an innings that saw Kevin Pietersen (226) hit his first ever Test double century, with West Indies skittled for just 146.
Things got worse for Windies when after being asked to follow-on they lost two more wickets in their second innings to a resurgent Ryan Sidebottom to leave them on 22-2 at close of play.
As well as Pietersen's menacing 226, Matt Prior (75) and Liam Plunkett (44 not out) contributed to England's daunting total; with Vaughan declaring immediately after Pietersen's run at the crease was ended by Dwayne Bravo.
The tourists, bereft of injured captain Ramnaresh Sarwan, struggled in their innings, leaving Sidebottom - making his second Test appearance six years after his debut - with 4-42 and Plunkett 3-35.
Opener Chris Gayle (5) was trapped by the Nottinghamshire left-arm spinner in the first over, while stand-in skipper Daren Ganga (11) followed soon after.
Devon Smith (26) and Sylvester Joseph (13) steadied the ship for a while, but after being dismissed by Steve Harmison and Plunkett respectively the remaining wickets fell cheaply.
In their second innings, with 11 overs remaining in the day, Sidebottom then forced the ignominy of being dismissed twice in one day upon Ganga, soon after claiming the wicket of night watchman Daren Powell.