WI off to swift start in victory chase

BRIDGETOWN, MARCH 16: England let the West Indies openers off the hook in the final session on the fourth day of the fifth Test here on Sund...

BRIDGETOWN, MARCH 16: England let the West Indies openers off the hook in the final session on the fourth day of the fifth Test here on Sunday when Philo Wallace first controversially survived a run-out and was then dropped by Dean Headley off Phil Tufnell.

Play ended with the West Indies, who were chasing a 375-run victory target, on 71 for no wicket at the close. Earlier England, who scored 403 in their first visit to the crease and who are bidding to square the six-Test series at 2-2, declared their second innings at 233 for three.

Big-hitting West Indian openers Wallace and Clayton Lambert had surged to 55 when the incidents occurred, denying England the breakthrough they craved when they gave the West Indies 19 overs’ batting.

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First third umpire Halley Moore refused to confirm that Wallace had been run out when Alec Stewart’s throw hit the stumps — although television replays appeared to confirm that Wallace’s bat had not been grounded.

Then Headley let the ball slip through his hands at deepsquare leg after a frustrated Phil Tufnell induced a top-edged sweep later in the same over.

Slow left-armer Tufnell holds the key to England’s hopes, because Lambert and Wallace are far happier against pace, and savaged the new ball in a thrilling dusk attack.

Rain delay

Rain stopped play from beginning on time and frustrated England and West Indian hopes of gaining a decisive victory.

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West Indies were 111 for the loss of two wickets in the post-lunch session.

Skipper Brian Lara was batting on 13 with Shivnaraine Chanderpaul for company (2).

SCOREBOARD

England (1st innings) 403

West Indies (1st innings) 262

England (2nd innings): Mike Atherton c Williams b Bishop 64, Alec Stewart c Lara b Bishop 48, Mark Butcher c Lambert b Ambrose 26, Nasser Hussain not out 46, Graham Thorpe not out 36; Extras (lb6, b1, nb6) 13.Total (for three wickets declared) 233

Fall of wickets: 1-101, 2-128, 3-173.

Bowling: Walsh 12-1-40-0, Ambrose 12-4-48-1, Hooper 21-5-58-0,Bishop 14-1-51-2, Chanderpaul 5-3-13-0, McLean 7-0-16-0.

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West Indies (2nd innings): Clayton Lambert not out 28, Phillo Wallace not out 38; Extras (lb5) 5.

Total (for no wicket) 71.

Bowling: Caddick 4-0-18-0, Headley 2-0-14-0, Tufnell 7-3-9-0, Fraser 4-0-22-0, Ramprakash 2-1-3-0.

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