T4 day2: Ravi Bopara Adds to Century Tally, England on a High

Sreelata YellamrazuFeb 28 2009

England could not have asked for more audacious batting from the team after trailing 1-0 in the series. If day one clearly belonged to the skipper and his opening partner, the second day was about old hands and new beginnings.

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Kevin Pietersen showed a lot of promise overnight, but eventually departed for forty-one. But West Indies continued to pay a heavy price on a pitch that held little assistance. Another near century, an unusual century maker and a handy wicket keeper marked a good day for England Andrew Strauss.

Having scored his century and nearly witnessed one from Alastair Cook, Andrew Strauss was allowed to put up his feet for the better part of the day and watch on in fascination as his batsmen milked the West Indies bowlers to tremendous effect.

Paul Collingwood got into the run scoring mood and that he finished up four short, like Cook ended up six short, did not diminish his efforts by a hair’s breadth. Crucially the 149 run partnership between Collingwood and Ravi Bopara, who replaced Andrew Flintoff in this match, took England from strength to strength and gave Bopara the opportunity to push when Collingwood eventually fell to Edwards, the only one who looked like taking wickets.

Bopara cashed in on a better Test opportunity after his horrendous run in Sri Lanka to notch his first ever century in international cricket. Keeping him company was another replacement, Tim Ambrose for Matt Prior, who made his third Test half century, a healthy, unbeaten 76 when the England skipper declared appropriately on 600 for 6.

West Indies lost skipper Chris Gayle early but Ramnaresh Sarwan provided a few fireworks before the hosts ended the day on eighty-five for one, but a huge task still ahead of them.

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