Windies hit back after Flintoff storm

When West Indies started, Ashley Giles took a jumping one-handed catch at gully in the first over to dismiss Devon Smith 4 after the opener had tried to work Matthew Hoggard to leg. Hoggard then grabbed his second wicket in his next over when Chris Gayle 7 stepped across his stumps and was bowled around his legs.

Earlier in the day, Andrew Flintoff hit his highest Test score with a mix of precision and power. He guided the ball around the ground with care for his fifty before accelerating to a fourth test hundred, punishing the West Indies pace attack with effortless strokes.

In all he hit seven sixes including three off an Omari Banks over. The first went down the ground to bring up Flintoff8217;s 150, next ball he clubbed another over deep mid wicket and then repeated the feat off the spinner two balls later. The tall all-rounder was finally undone when Dwayne Bravo trapped him lbw with an excellent slower ball. Flintoff had some luck, a loose shot on 67 flying just wide of Lara at first slip while Jermaine Lawson spilled a caught-and-bowled chance.

Geraint Jones also impressed with 74, giving him an average above 50 from eight Test innings, as the duo built a sixth-wicket partnership of 170. Jones fell when Corey Collymore found a hint of away movement with a good length ball and induced a nick behind. England8217;s last six batsmen put on 304, more than the top order, with final pair Matthew Hoggard 15 not out and Steve Harmison 31 not out sharing a 41-run stand.

Brief scores

England:

566/9 decl A Flintoff 167, M Trescothick 105, G Jones 74, G Thorpe 61; , D Bravo 4/76 vs West Indies: 184/2 R Sarwan 87 n.o., B Lara 74 n.o.; M Hoggard 2/48

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