London: West Indies reached 120 for four against England at stumps, on day three of the first Test at Lord’s on Saturday and their hopes of avoiding defeat once again rest with Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
The tourists were left trailing by 35 runs at stumps with six second-innings wickets remaining, but Chanderpaul, ranked as the world’s No. 1 batsman, remains unbeaten on 34, having hit only four boundaries in a 95-ball innings.
Marlon Samuels was unbeaten on 26 and West Indies had at least avoided humiliation, losing just one wicket in the evening session, when Graeme Swann (1-21) bowled Darren Bravo for 21.
A defeat inside three days loomed when they lost three wickets without scoring a run in a calamitous nine-ball spell before tea to slump to 36-3.
West Indies dominated early in the day, only to see England recover to 398 all out, after Ian Bell hit a fluent, counter-attacking 61 to give the hosts a 155-run lead.
Bell’s innings, which included four fours from 105 balls, helped seize the initiative from West Indies, which had England wobbling when it dismissed Stuart Broad early in the afternoon session.
Shannon Gabriel picked up his first Test wickets to finish with 3-60, while Kemar Roach claimed 3-87, including the wicket of England captain and top-scorer Andrew Strauss, dismissed for 122 having added just a single to his overnight score. (Agencies)