KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC - Expectations of a keenly-contested series have been fulfilled almost to the letter after the first three days of the opening cricket Test with the West Indies going into the fourth day at Sabina Park needing just 20 more runs to erase the first innings advantage earned by England, and with all ten wickets standing.
The infectious enthusiasm and full-throttle aggression of Tino Best highlighted yesterday’s rain-affected third day as the 22-year-old pacer claimed his first three wickets in Test cricket to play a significant role in limiting the tourists to 339 in their first innings.
As on the second day when he and Fidel Edwards peppered the opposition with a series of short-pitched deliveries, Best was all hostility and venom, carrying the additional burden manfully after Edwards was forced to leave the field in the midst of his 20th over with an as-yet-unspecified back injury.
England were indebted to former captain Nasser Hussain (58) and all-rounder Andrew Flintoff (46) for maintaining stout resistance between the showers on a pitch that remains generally firm, but is occasionally hinting at deterioration.
That unevenness is expected to increase over the final two days making it almost imperative for the Caribbean side to get off to a solid start when Chris Gayle (8) and Devon Smith (0) resume with the West Indies at eight without loss.
All the speculation about the pitch and the distinct possibility of an outright result to start the four-match series could be rendered inconsequential, however, if the inclement weather that arrived on Friday persists and continues to interrupt what has developed into an absorbing contest.
Hussain and the other overnight batsman, Graham Thorpe, took their time making progress on a heavily overcast morning, with the left-hander doing the bulk of the scoring while the former captain was kept in check by the Barbadian trio of Best, Edwards and Corey Collymore.
On 41 at stumps on the second day, Hussain laboured to reach his 31st Test half-century in 223 minutes, his 50th run coming from a delivery off Best that struck him a painful blow on the right hand.
Best, the leading wicket-taker in the league phase of the Carib Beer Series, enjoyed a duel with Thorpe and eventually won the battle, prompting the veteran to top-edge an attempted hook for Adam Sanford to take the catch at long-leg.
Relieved to have finally claimed his first scalp after going wicketless in his debut Test against Australia last year at Kensington Oval, the little pacer sprinted to the boundary area, jumping and punching the air before sliding onto the outfield football-style before being smothered by his team-mates.
From the relative comfort of 194 for three, England were reduced to 209 for five when Hussain perished to Best shortly after Thorpe’s demise, substitute fielder Dave Bernard Jr taking a straightforward catch at extra-cover as the phlegmatic right-hander got a leading edge to an attempted turn to leg.
More rain delayed the resumption after lunch by an hour and with the sun shining brightly for the first time in the day, Flintoff and wicketkeeper-batsman Chris Read cashed in on wayward bowling from Sanford in particular and made the most of the absence of Edwards in adding 59 runs for the sixth wicket.
The breakthrough eventually came when Brian Lara, back on the field after spending much of the morning in the dressing room treating his dislocated finger, summoned Ramnaresh Sarwan, and the vice-captain lured Flintoff into a lofted drive for Ryan Hinds to take the catch at midwicket.
Hinds was again in the right spot when Best claimed his third wicket from the first delivery with the second new ball, Read scooping a catch to square-leg.
Ashley Giles pushed England beyond the West Indies’ first innings total of 311 but was then bowled by Sanford for 27 playing down the wrong line to a straight delivery.
More rain seemed to have put an end to the day, but the players returned in the late evening, and as on the second day, it proved a significant period.
Hinds claimed his first wicket with Simon Jones slicing a catch to cover and then ran out last man Steve Harmison courtesy of substitute fielder Ricardo Powell’s throw to the bowler from cover.
Undermanned by the absence of one of their key bowlers, the West Indies can take credit for limiting England’s lead to 28 runs, but the match remains wide open and neither side is likely to be able to relax at any stage of the final two days.
WEST Indies first innings 311 (D.Smith 108, R.Hinds 84)
ENGLAND first innings (o/n 154-3)
M.Trescothick b Edwards 7
M.Vaughan c Lara b Edwards 15
M.Butcher c Jacobs b Edwards 58
N.Hussain c sub. b Best 58
G.Thorpe c Sanford b Best 19
A.Flintoff c Hinds b Sarwan 46
C.Read c Hinds b Best 20
A.Giles b Sanford 27
M.Hoggard not out 9
S.Jones c Sanford b Hinds 7
S.Harmison run-out 13
Extras: (b-7, lb-28, w-7, nb-18) 60
Total: (all out, 103.2 overs) 339
Fall of wickets: 1-28, 2-33, 3-152, 4-194, 5-209, 6-268, 7-278, 8-313, 9-325.