Rain saves the day for Windies

West Indies captain Jimmy Adams won the toss and elected to bat in a surprising decision given that the tourists have outstanding bowlers in pacemen Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh while their top-order batting has been consistently frail.

The veteran quicks would have been relishing the opportunity to immediately test England debutant and opening batsman Marcus Trescothick.

Instead Sherwin Campbell was first to fall, edging Darren Gough’s eleventh ball and the recalled Graham Thorpe taking a fine catch going to his left at third slip.

West Indies were three for one and opener Adrian Griffith already under pressure after being chosen ahead of Chris Gayle was looking ill at ease in the face of some accurate bowling from Gough and Andrew Caddick.

Somerset paceman Caddick ended Griffith’s unconvincing stay, the left-hander was trapped leg before wicket. The tourists were 12 for two and had not Lara got the faintest of inside edges against Caddick their situation would have been even worse.

When the rain, which had delayed the start by an hour, returned Gough had figures of 7-3-13-1 and Caddick an even better analysis of 6-2-7-1.

More rain meant only another 5.2 overs were possible before tea.

SCOREBOARD
West Indies (1st Innings): Sherwin Campbell c Thorpe b Gough 2, Adrian Griffith lbw b Caddick 2, Wavel Hinds batting 15, Brian Lara batting 5 Extras: (lb-1, nb-2) 3, TOTAL: (for 2 wkts, 18.2 overs) 27
Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-12
Bowling: Gough 9-3-18-1, Caddick 9-4-8-1, Cork 0.2-0-0-0.