Cricket: England's experienced middle order played an influential role in salvaging a battling draw from the final Test against West Indies and retaining their unbeaten Caribbean record at the Recreation Ground yesterday.
There are those sufficiently long in the tooth to be aware of potential pitfalls in England attempts to save Test matches.
So when after lunch yesterday, with Michael Vaughan well into his second 100 runs and breezing along on auto-pilot and Mark Butcher seeing out his winter in typically phlegmatic style, it seemed as if the draw in the final Test was as certain as it could get, many remained doubtful.
There was little surprise then when Vaughan propped forward to a loopy leg-spinner and saw the ball rebound from his glove to the West Indies wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs.
The wicket represented some vindication for Brian Lara, whose captaincy has come under scrutiny this series.
Marcus Trescothick had already gone for 88 and now England were 274 for two, still miles behind the home side with time the only issue. But Butcher and Nasser Hussain - in what may prove to be the last innings of a distinguished career - dug in and by tea England were 345 for two, 121 short of avoiding an innings defeat. Butcher had reached 53, his fourth half-century of the series, and the former England captain, having carved away merrily, was on 42.
In the dressing-room during the interval, however, there was bound to be reflection on what could happen. On a last-day pitch, where the ball can behave erratically, there is never room for complacency.
Twice in Bangladesh before Christmas Vaughan and Trescothick had started the England innings with a century partnership but they have had a tough time of it in the Caribbean with stands of 28, 20 (unbeaten), two, eight, eight, 57 and eight in the first innings here. Now, with clear blue skies and the gentlest of breezes, and the pace bowlers operating first thing in an endeavour to make an early breakthrough, both began to drive with some freedom.
On 81, Trescothick appeared to escape when a full-length ball from Edwards almost eluded his bat and thudded into his pad. Replays suggested it had the right credentials for lbw but Aleem Dar ruled otherwise and Trescothick survived. Not for long.
Angered by a sumptuous cover drive, almost the best shot Trescothick has played all tour, Edwards hurled in the next delivery intent on mayhem. Cleverly, though, he produced a subtle, slower delivery, deceiving the batsman sufficiently that he could merely prod it to Ramnaresh Sarwan at extra-cover.
The dismissal put paid to thoughts of a really significant partnership. The pair's sixth century stand, at 182, outstripped the 168 they put on against Sri Lanka at Lord's in 2002. But the chance was there for the taking to surpass the 234 made by Geoff Boycott and Bob Barber in Sydney in 1965-66 as the highest for England in 45 years; an opportunity too to match Graham Gooch and Mike Atherton, who against India at Old Trafford in 1990 became the last England opening pair each to score a century.
In just under four hours Trescothick had hit 10 fours. By this time Vaughan had reached 80. Immediately Best shaved the bails as the England captain shaped to hook. A leg-glance for four off the same bowler took him to 98, and although he might have been run out going for a quick single next ball had extra-cover not fumbled, an emphatic cover drive in the following over from Collins took him to three figures.
Guardian Service
WEST INDIES: first innings 751 for 5 declared (B Lara 400 not out, R Jacobs 107 not out, R Sarwan 90, C Gayle 69)
ENGLAND: first innings 285 (A Flintoff 102 not out, M Butcher 52; P Collins 4 for 76)
Second innings (overnight 145 for 0)
M Trescothick c Sarwan b Edwards88
M Vaughan c Jacobs b Sarwan140
M Butcher c Gayle b Hinds61
N Hussain b Hinds56
G Thorpe not out23
A Flintoff c Lara b Sarwan14
G Jones not out10
Extras (b4 lb7 w3 nb16 pens 0)30
Total (5 wkts, 137 overs)422
Fall: 1-182; 2-274; 3-366; 4-387; 5-408
Bowling: Best 16-1-57-0, Edwards 20-2-81-1, Collymore 18-3-58-0, Powell 8-0-36-0, Hinds 38-8-83-2, Gayle 17-6-36-0, Sarwan 12-2-26-2, Collins 8-2-34-0.
