ARUNDEL, England, CMC:
DESPITE TAKING a healthy 120-run first innings lead, the West Indies were uncomfortably placed at 115 for five in their second turn at the crease on a cold, grey but very eventful second day of the three-day match against an MCC XI yesterday.
Eighteen wickets tumbled in seamer-friendly conditions, leaving the tourists to rely on their captain and only reasonably consistent opener Chris Gayle to pull them out of a perilous position just after the hosts had lost their last eight first innings wickets for just 65 runs in reply to the Caribbean side's first innings total of 380.
NO LINGERING EFFECTS
Coming to the crease in the increasing gloom of late evening with the innings in ruins at 50 for five, Brian Lara showed no lingering effects of the flu that forced him to retire his first innings at 113 on the opening day.
He resumes on the final morning on 34 in partnership with Gayle, who mixed moments of indecision with fearsome strokeplay in reaching 64.
With an overall lead of 235, a pair well set in a 65-run sixth-wicket partnership and a forecast of more cloudy conditions today, the West Indies seem to hold the edge, but will be mindful of the ease with which the MCC top order dominated their pace attack before the back-up bowlers triggered the slide from 195 for two in mid-afternoon to 260 all out an hour into the final session.
With the first of four Tests against England at Lord's just seven days away, the tourists will be hoping that freakish injuries sustained by the two Dwaynes - Smith and Bravo - will improve to have them fully fit for consideration for the Wisden Trophy opener, particularly as they proved so effective with their medium-pacers.
Smith sustained a cut on his inner left thigh via the spikes of his right boot as he dived to make a stop in the field. But after being taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, the 21-year-old Barbadian returned to take three wickets in four balls to polish off the MCC innings in his only over.
Yet the day still ended on a low note for him as he failed for the second time with the bat, trapped palpably leg-before for a first-ball duck by Matthew Hoggard.
After mopping up the lower order in the first innings at the start of play with two wickets off successive balls to finish with figures of four for 32, the England seamer looked in ominous form for the series ahead, also removing Devon Smith (3) and Carlton Baugh (0) to lift his match tally to seven wickets.
