England win 1st test

Wednesday, 23 May 2012 13:28

Written by Editor

Alastair Cook and Ian Bell (pictured)  led England to victory in the first Test against the West Indies at Lord's on Monday. England, set a target of 191 to win, were faltering at 57 for four before lunch on the fifth and final day.

But Cook (79) and Bell (63 not out) shared a fifth-wicket partnership of 132 that saw England, the world's number one ranked Test side, to the brink of victory before left-handed opener Cook was out with two runs needed when caught in the gully off West Indies captain Darren Sammy.

Bell though struck the winning boundary for a win that gave England a 1-0 lead in this three-match series heading into the second Test at Trent Bridge starting Friday.

England resumed Monday on 10 for two after Kemar Roach had taken two wickets for seven runs in eight balls to remove England captain Andrew Strauss – a first innings century-maker – and nightwatchman James Anderson on Sunday.

Both left-handed opener Cook and Jonathan Trott had yet to score. Roach struck again Monday to remove Trott for 13 with a good length ball that squared him up and took the edge with Sammy, diving to his left, holding a good catch at second slip.

And 13 also proved an unlucky number for Trott's fellow South Africa-born batsman Kevin Pietersen. He had just pulled Test debutant Shannon Gabriel's third delivery of the innings for four when, to the fast bowler's next ball , he tried to repeat the stroke and got a bottom edge to wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin.

England were in trouble but Cook got them going again. He completed a 78-ball fifty featuring eight fours when he late cut off-spinner Marlon Samuels and after lunch Bell followed him to the landmark in 84 balls.