Hick, Vaughan in rescue act

West Indies’ only success of the morning was to remove nightwatchman Andy Caddick for six as Curtly Ambrose, fresh from his triumph in reaching 400 Test wickets, added to his tally.

Ambrose and fellow veteran fast bowler Courtney Walsh again demanded the utmost respect but once they were rested the West Indians faced their familiar problem of not having support bowlers with the same disciplined methods.

Caddick stayed with Vaughan for almost half an hour after England resumed at the overnight 105 for five, scoring 19 with the aid of nimble running for sharply-taken singles that produced the bonus of several overthrows.

Ambrose, who became the fifth bowler in Test cricket history to take 400 wickets on Thursday, ended Caddick’s staunch 45-minute effort when the Somerset paceman edged a rising delivery to wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs.

Hick, recalled after being dropped for the drawn third Test at Old Trafford, and Vaughan kept the score moving steadily against wayward bowling by Reon King and Nixon McLean, whose introduction into the attack eased the tension that always prevails when Ambrose and Walsh are in action.

King was withdrawn after five ragged overs for 16 and Walsh came back at the Kirkstall Lane end as Vaughan and Hick completed their half-century partnership for the seventh wicket in 65 minutes.

Hick celebrated by cutting Walsh crisply to the boundary, the first four the Jamaican fast bowler had conceded in the innings. A supreme model of economy, it came in his 21st over.

By lunch West Indies captain Jimmy Adams had brought his left-arm spin into the attack, but was clearly banking on a telling burst from Ambrose and Walsh with the second new ball due after 11 more overs.

Scoreboard

West Indies (1st Innings): Sherwin Campbell c Trescothick b Gough 8, Adrian Griffith c Stewart b Gough 22, Wavell Hinds c Stewart b White 16, Brian Lara lbw b White 4, Jimmy Adams b White 2, Ramnaresh Sarwan not out 59, Ridley Jacobs c Caddick b Cork 35, Nixon McLean c Stewart b White 7, Curtly Ambrose b Cork 1, Reon King lbw b Gough 6, Curtly Walsh c Caddick b White 1; Extras: (lb-2, nb-9) 11. Total: (all out in 48.4 overs) 172

Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-50, 3-54, 4-56, 5-60, 6-128,7-143, 8-148, 9-168

Bowling: Gough 17-2-59-3, Caddick 10-3-35-0, White 14.4-4-57-4, Cork 7-0-19-2

England (1st innings; overnight 95-5): Michael Atherton c Lara b Ambrose 6, Marcus Trescothick c Lara b Ambrose 1, Nasser Hussain lbw b Walsh 22, Graham Thorpe lbw b Walsh 46, Alec Stewart c Campbell b Walsh 5, Michael Vaughan batting 37, Andy Caddick c Jacobs b Ambrose 6, Graeme Hick batting 45; Extras: (b4, lb11, w3, nb14) 32. Total: (for 6 wkts in 69 overs) 200

Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-10, 3-80, 4-93, 5-96, 6-124

Bowling: Ambrose 17-3-38-3 (4nb), Walsh 23-9-40-3 (5nb), King 11-2-48-0 (4nb, 3w), McLean 17-5-57-0 (1nb), Adams 1-0-2-0.