So England's day but the final session belonged to the West Indies with them picking up 3 wickets and only conceding 80 runs. Still though with Pietersen and Collingwood set overnight they should both be looking to kick on and make centuries to put England in the driving spot and hope that should the chances come their way that went to the West Indies then that those catches stick.
wasted appeal there from Pietersen, no sign of an inside edge. It's a big wicket though for the West Indies with Pietersen adding very little to his overnight score. Let's see if Bopara can continue the form from the warm up match.
England 553-5 at tea, Bopara closing in on a century and Ambrose hitting some sweet strokes, presumably the declaration will come once Bopara gets out or gets to a century.
so Bopara gets his maiden test century, quality effort, some cracking hook shots throughout. Good to see him bringing his county form into the test arena.
Will be interesting to see how long England go on now, Ambrose might have a chance of a century if they keep scoring at a quick rate.
England declare on 600-6, West Indies need 400 to avoid the follow on.
If England can take the chances that come their way that the West Indies dropped than they could have a decent chance, the pressure of the total should also put added pressure on the West Indies batsmen.
only 1 wicket so far today coming from Swann but you've got to think this has a draw written all over it, especially as Chanderpaul will bat for hours when he comes to the crease.
Day 3 of the final test and the draw looks the best bet at the moment, I've never seen a series played in such batting friendly conditions, it's no wonder crowds are so low all around the world bar Australia and England. England making more headway than they did in Barbados but hard to see the bowlers taking 20 wickets.
Been watching the series on and off and I've noted several things:
- England's slips and Matt Prior are at best set too far back (Prior keeps having to stoop right down low to catch recieve deliveries on this Trinidad slow pitch) and at worst are just plain lazy. They are set too far back and just stand there, not stepping forward or anything and theres been several catchable edges to the slips which they've missed because the ball has landed short. This has been the story of the series for England's fielders.
- What do England have against 3rd man? Its like the Bermuda triangle out there and they keep leaking runs through not having anyone out at 3rd man.
- Strauss and Swann don't like each other :unsure: I'm seeing echoes of Ponting and Warne during 2005.
well the pitch in Antigua was fine and England's bowlers only have themselves to blame for not taking that final wicket, it's a copout saying Strauss should have declared earlier, there was plenty of time for England to bowl the Windies out in that second innings.
Barbados was a joke though and Trinidad seems to have been as bad although I'm not aware what has gone on today as of yet!
England have set West Indies 240 to win the final test of the series having set the total thanks to a century partnership between Prior and Pietersen, with Pietersen making his century in 92 balls. West Indies 39-2 at the moment.
