PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, (Reuters) - Nasser Hussain and Mark Butcher survived a severe test yesterday to strengthen England's position on a rain-hit day two of the second Test against West Indies.
Having finished off West Indies for 208 in the first half hour, England slumped to eight for two. After a long rain delay Hussain and Butcher added a hard-earned 46 before rain returned to force an early close.
With only three days remaining a draw looks the most likely result but after their poor performance on day one, West Indies salvaged some pride with a game fightback.
Resuming on 189 for eight, West Indies passed the 200 mark thanks to a few lusty blows from wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs, who was eventually run-out by Ashley Giles for 40.
Pedro Collins followed soon after to Steve Harmison for 10, giving the fast bowler figures of six for 61, following his seven for 12 in the second innings in the first Test victory in Jamaica.
England's hopes of securing a big first-innings lead were dealt an early blow when Collins hit back for West Indies, trapping England captain Michael Vaughan plumb lbw for a duck.
At the other end, Marcus Trescothick survived a confident appeal for caught behind and was then dropped in the gully in consecutive balls from Tino Best.
But the fast bowler did not need to wait long to get his man as four balls later Trescothick mistimed a pull to give Adam Sanford an easy catch at short square leg.
The first rain of the day stopped West Indies in their tracks and it was almost four and a half hours before the players returned.
Hussain and Butcher were then subjected to a superb spell of bowling, particularly by Best and Collins. Butcher should have been dismissed on 20 but Shivnarine Chanderpaul dropped a simple catch off Corey Collymore at second slip, while both batsmen survived enthusiastic appeals for lbw before rain ended play for the day.
England, who lead the four-match series 1-0 after their 10-wicket victory in Jamaica, are looking to win a series in the Caribbean for the first time since 1968.
WEST INDIES first innings (o/n 189-8)
C.Gayle c Read b Harmison 62
Devon Smith lbw b Harmison 35
R.Sarwan c Flintoff b Harmison 21
B.Lara c Giles b Harmison 0
S.Chanderpaul c Read b Jones 2
Dwayne Smith c Hussain b Harmison 16
R.Jacobs run-out 40
T.Best c Read b Hoggard 1
A.Sanford run-out 1
P.Collins b Harmison 10
C.Collymore not out 3
Extras: (lb-7, w-6, nb-4) 17
Total: (all out, 60.1 overs) 208
Fall of wickets: 1-100, 2-110, 3-110, 4-113, 5-142, 6-143, 7-148, 8-165, 9-202.