Friday, March 6 – Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad: Captain Andrew Strauss hit his third century on the trot here Friday as a defensive West Indies team was made to toil on another lifeless surface as England racked up 258 for two on the first day of the 5th and final Digicel Test at the Queen’s Park Oval.
The in-form Strauss, playing with the confidence gained from scores of 169 at Antigua and 142 at Barbados, produced an unbeaten 139 that was spiced with 11 fours. The 32-year-old’s 17th Test century spanned 261 deliveries in six hours.
Strauss shared two century partnerships during the day. He dominated the first with Owais Shah that set the anchor for a big total while he and the equally assured Paul Collingwood rammed home the visitors’ advantage in the final session in an unbroken stand of 102.
Collingwood strode to 54 not out off 123 balls with four fours.
The West Indies, who omitted the injured Jerome Taylor and left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn as they boosted their batting for this crucial test, got their wickets from Daren Powell and Ryan Hinds.
Powell, lucky to survive the axe, took one for 51 while part-timer Hinds, having to fill the void due to Benn’s omission, claimed one for 49.
By the time Powell delivered the second over of the day running in with the newly-named Brian Lara Pavilion at his back, it was obvious that the pitch was never going to produce the sort of life stimulated off the field by the Digicel girls.
But Powell provided an early breakthrough at 26 for one when Alastair Cook’s uncertain prod ended with an edge to wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin.
There was little encouragement for the home team’s bowlers but two run out opportunities presented themselves to remove Strauss before he reached fifty.
On the first occasion, Hinds missed the stumps from backward point as Strauss, then 30, scrambled. Devon Smith had a clearer opportunity from third slip after another mix-up between Strauss, then 47, and Shah but he was also wayward with his throw.
A third run out opportunity, this time to remove Shah, was also missed by the home team as debutant Lendl Simmons failed to gather a ball with both batsmen at the same end.
The pair was eventually separated midway through the second session when nasty cramps in his left hand forced Shah to retire hurt at 133-1. Shah was never fluent in compiling 29 off 115 balls.
Kevin Pietersen cracked two boundaries in one over from medium pacer Brendan Nash to signal his intention to up the tempo but perished to a fine Hinds one-two on the stroke of tea.
The England ace was beaten by a sharply turning delivery one ball and then, next delivery, was bowled through the gate by one that went on with the arm.
England resumed after tea on 156 for two and at the crossroads.
But Strauss and Collingwood ensured the visitors would end the day the more content with a forthright association that was forged primarily against the seldom threatening spin of Gayle and Hinds.
Strauss survived a TV referral appeal for LBW when he was 95 and soon brought up his 17th Test century with a cover drive off Gayle.
Strauss went on to pass 1,000 runs as England captain when he reached 114 and, one run later, also passed 500 runs for the series.
Collingwood arrived at his half century just before the close, off 108 deliveries.
The West Indies had more cause for worry when premier batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul limped off midway through the final session with a groin injury that could hamper his participation in the rest of the match.
