West Indies fightback after Alec’s smart 100

Earlier, veteran pace duo Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose, with four wickets each, had kept West Indies in the game as England’s last seven wickets tumbled for 107.

The home team had resumed in a strong position on 196-3, 39 runs ahead, but lost two wickets for the addition of just two runs.

Alec Stewart, who had reached 105 not out on Friday to become only the fourth player to make a century in his 100th Test, dabbed at the second ball of the day from Ambrose and was caught behind without adding to the score.

Debutant left-hander Marcus trescothick, 65 batting overnight after putting on 179 with Stewart, added a single before he was bowled off a pad by Walsh.

Reon King then came on to cut a delivery back and hit Craig White’s off stump after he had made six.

But Michael Vaughan, England’s last specialist batsman, and all-rounder Dominic Cork put on 41, the second-highest stand of the innings, as the fielding became increasingly ragged.

Ambrose, however, returned to force Cork to edge behind to make it 251-4 just before lunch and quickly dealt with Vaughan, caught at first slip for 29, and Andy Caddick after the break.

Robert Croft, with 27 not out, and Darren Gough, with 12, put on 20 for the last wicket.

The two teams are level 1-1 in the five-match series.

Scoreboard

West Indies (1st innings): 157

England 1st innings: Michael Atherton c Campbell b Walsh 1, Marcus Trescothick b Walsh 66, Nasser Hussain c Adams b Walsh 10, Graham Thorpe lbw b Walsh 0, Alec Stewart c Jacobs b Ambrose 105, Michael Vaughan c Lara b Ambrose 29, Craig White b King 6, Dominic Cork c Jacobs b Ambrose 16, Robert Croft not out 27, Andrew Caddick lbw b Ambrose 3, Darren Gough c Ambrose b King 12; Extras (b10, lb6, nb12) 28. Total (all out in 97.2 overs) 303

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-17, 3-17, 4-196, 5-198, 6-210,7-251, 8-275, 9-283

Bowling: Ambrose 27-7-70-4; Walsh 27-14-50-4; Rose20-3-83-0; King 12.2-3-52-2; Adams 11-4-32-0.

West Indies (2nd innings): Sherwin Campbell batting 21, Adrian Griffith batting 12; Extras (lb1, nb1) 2. Total (for no loss) 35

Bowling: Gough 5-1-15-0, Caddick 2-0-7-0, Cork 4-1-10-0, Croft 2-0-2-0.