Darren Sammy’s maiden Test century saw the West Indies to 370 all out against England, who had Alastair Cook reprieved just before lunch.
West Indies captain Sammy, who came into the match with a previous best of 61 and just one other century in his first-class career, rode his luck to make 106 as his stand with Marlon Samuels (117) reached 204 – a seventh-wicket record at Trent Bridge.
Tim Bresnan took three of the four wickets the tourists lost for 66 in the morning session of the second Test, but England’s prospects almost plummeted when Cook was well caught by Denesh Ramdin off Kemar Roach with one to his name.
The left-hander began to walk but was handed a life when replays showed Roach had no-balled, leaving England eight without loss at the break.
England’s second new ball was 10 overs old at the start of play, with the hosts desperate to take a seventh wicket before it lost its hardness.
For Sammy, the morning session was all about collecting the 12 runs he needed for a maiden Test century.
He moved past 90 with a meaty off-drive for four when James Anderson went full and brought up his ton with back-to-back fours off Stuart Broad.
Neither shot went where Sammy intended, the first a thick edge over the slips and the second just clearing Ian Bell at backward point having been aimed into the on-side.
Yet his celebrations for a 140-ball knock, with 16 fours and a six, were well justified.
Samuels added four more between slip and gully in Anderson’s next over, with England looking both flat and frustrated.
Bresnan came on for Anderson at the Radcliffe Road End and immediately conceded four leg-byes.
A Broad no-ball brought up the 200 partnership, but Sammy finally departed when he pulled Bresnan to deep mid-wicket where Kevin Pietersen held on.
Samuels added just one more to the total before he followed for 117, aiming a loose drive at Bresnan and finding Anderson at gully.
Roach was dropped by Swann on nought, but managed only seven before guiding Bresnan, who finished with for 104, to Andrew Strauss at first slip.
Graeme Swann wrapped things up, with Shane Shillingford stumped by Matt Prior for 16.
That left five overs before the interval, with Cook’s moment of fortune arriving in the third.
Source : Orange News
