England dismissed the West Indies for 295 on the third afternoon of the first Test in Antigua to claim a lead of 104 – but promptly suffered yet more top order woe.
The tourists sizeable advantage followed a first innings duck by falling tamely for just four. captainAlastair and first innings centurion Ian Bell made it 52-3 when he set off for a run that was never there and was caught well short of the crease.
Gary Ballance (31 not out) and Joe Root (28 not out) were on the crease at the time of going to press, with England on 99-3, a lead of 203. Earlier, it had all looked good as the tourists.
James Tredwell finished with four for 47 to largely eclipse Anderson’s efforts. But on the occasion of his 100th cap, and with Botham’s 23-year-old mark of 383 beckoning, the Lancashire swing merchant’s every success is noteworthy. He had last man Sulieman Benn caught at short leg to move to 382 victims and will fancy his chances of standing alone at the summit before the end of the match.
The West Indian’s tailend collapse was hard on Jermaine Blackwood, who finished 112 not out having compiled an idiosyncratic but compelling maiden hundred.
Tredwell, meanwhile, made an eloquent response to the news that off-spinning all-rounder Moeen Ali would be flying out to join the squad ahead of next week’s second Test. Earning his second Test cap five years on from his debut, he accounted for Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Jason Holder and Kemar Roach having picked up opener Kraigg Brathwaite on day two. Moeen’s arrival presents a threat to his place if England stick with one spinner, but Tredwell will not go without first making his case.
Anderson needed 10 overs to add his dismissal of Devon Smith on the second afternoon, Benn flicking obligingly to Joe Root.
As for Tredwell, he was assisted by Cook’s captaincy, who offered him extra bodies on the offside as England hunted their first wicket and Tredwell’s tempter persuaded Chanderpaul to pick out one of two short covers. Jason Holder was similarly persuaded to throw away his wicket.
