England stay on top despite Chanderpaul ton

England 568 and 71 for 0 (Trescothick 34*, Strauss 27*) lead West Indies 416 (Chanderpaul 128*, Gayle 66, Giles 4-129) by 223 runs
Scorecard

A gutsy unbeaten century from Shivnarine Chanderpaul was not enough to prevent England taking control of this opening Test match at Lord's, as West Indies were bowled out for 416 in their first innings before England closed the third day at 71 for no loss, with a commanding lead of 223.

It was a predominantly a batsman's day, with 279 runs being collected on a flat pitch ideal for batting. The England attack, bar Andrew Flintoff, struggled to extract much life from the wicket, and they were by and large unthreatening, as Chanderpaul, helped by some big hitting from Omari Banks, helped his side to avoid the follow on, and to a healthy position at tea. However, Flintoff returned and blasted out three quick wickets - all bowled - as the West Indian lower-order collapsed to leave Chanderpaul stranded at 128 not out.

Chanderpaul, who had a lean time against England in the Caribbean, made a bright start to the days' play, playing a host of drives through the off side. He punched Matthew Hoggard through the covers, and then brought up his half-century by driving the same bowler past point. Another drive through extra cover brought up the hundred stand with Dwayne Bravo, and the batsmen were fully on top.

Bravo pushed towards what would have been a half-century on debut with quick singles rather than any big shots, but as he approached the landmark, he played away from his body at a sharp lifting delivery from Simon Jones, and Geraint Jones took the catch behind (264 for 5).

Ridley Jacobs made a quiet and shaky start, and he escaped a half chance on 5 when he slashed at a teasing tempter outside off stump from Ashley Giles. The ball flew high to Flintoff's left at first slip, but he could only get a fingertip on it.

Flintoff himself was called onto bowl by Michael Vaughan 15 minutes before the lunch break, and he tentatively got through three overs, in the second of which Chanderpaul stroked him for two successive fours through the off side which took him to the nineties.

Jacobs came out after lunch in a positive mood. He crunched Stephen Harmison straight back past him, and then edged Hoggard over point for four. But Hoggard got his revenge in the following over. Jacobs went for the big cover-drive to an awayswinger and got a healthy edge through to Jones for 32 (327 for 6).

Chanderpaul moved to 98 by flicking Harmison past square leg for four, and later chopped Harmison for two down to third man for his hundred. He took off his helmet and kissed the wicket as Lord's applauded a chanceless knock.

Chanderpaul received good support from Banks, who unleashed three spanking drives down the ground, one off Hoggard, and two from Harmison. He then drilled Jones through the covers, and guided Giles over the rope past backward point. However, Giles began to tie him down, and Banks had his first life on 21 when he miscued a drive to mid on, where Graham Thorpe spilled the catch low his left.

His second life came on 24 when Harmison dropped a difficult chance at deep mid-off from Giles, and Banks made the most of his fortune. He hammered Giles over long on for six, lofted him over extra cover, and then over midwicket for his seventh four.

But then Flintoff showed what England had been missing without his bowling when he helped to clean up the West Indian tail. He bowled Banks and Tino Best in successive balls. Banks played all round a straight full ball for a sprightly 45, and Best was then beaten for pace as his off stump was sent flying (399 for 8). Pedro Collins survived the hat-trick ball, but it wasn't long before he was also done through the gate for a duck (401 for 9). Fidel Edwards hung around for nine balls, but he couldn't resist a wild yahoo across the line to Giles, and was bowled for a duck to close the innings.

Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Strauss were then faced with 22 overs before the close, and Trecsothick made a blistering start by crunching Best for two successive fours through the covers. Best later limped off the field, and the batsmen then knuckled down to consolidate their lead, with Trescothick not out at 34, and Strauss, who survived a run-out chance, unbeaten on 27. With two full days still remaining in the match, and with more sunny weather promised, England will still feel they're in with a decent shout.