Tags:
Journalism of Courage
PORT OF SPAIN (TRINIDAD), February 5: The Queens Park Oval pitch for the second Test between West Indies and England lacked the dangerous edge of Sabina Park a week ago but England’s top three batsmen needed skill and luck today to crawl to 70 for one at lunch on the first day.
Captain Michael Atherton, who won the toss and elected to bat, was the man to go, caught by Brian Lara in the slips off Curtley Ambrose for 11.
On a grassy surface, Courtney Walsh and Ambrose gave the English a tough grilling in front of a noisy crowd.
Alec Stewart, not out on 39 at lunch, took 25 minutes to score his first run but just when it seemed the openers had survived the onslaught, Atherton edged to give Lara a great start to his 50th Test match.
Atherton had batted 66 minutes – exactly the length of the first Test – and has now gone nine innings without a 50.
John Crawley received a fiery few minutes but got through to lunch although he might have been run out on two. He survived an appeal for catch behind at thesame score but after the umpires consulted it was ruled that the ball had touched the ground before wicket-keeper David Williams caught it.
Stewart eventually began to produce some of his most exciting shots and looked reasonably comfortable with Crawley, who was on seven.
Brief Scores: England (first innings): 70-1 (Michael Artherton 11, Alec Stewart 39 batting).
