Chanderpaul resues West Indies

Shivnarine Chanderpaul fought a typical rearguard action to lead West Indies to 146 for four at tea on the first day of the opening Test against England at Lord’s on Thursday.

The tenacious left-hander was unbeaten on 42 at the interval with Marlon Samuels on 14 after the touring side lost two more wickets in the afternoon session.

Opener Adrian Barath was first to go for 42, driving loosely at a wide ball from Stuart Broad and giving James Anderson a high catch in the gully which he grabbed at the second attempt.

The diminutive Barath had batted through the morning with a mixture of watchful defence and nine crisp boundaries through the covers and straight down the ground.

Darren Bravo was badly dropped by Graeme Swann at second slip off Anderson but he failed to take advantage of the lifeline and was needlessly run out for 29 in the next over.

Bravo recklessly charged through for a quick single and with Chanderpaul staying firmly in his crease both batsmen ended up stranded at one end.

Although England wicketkeeper Matt Prior threw the ball wildly back to the bowler, Swann dived to gather it and break the stumps and reduce West Indies to 100 for four.

Chanderpaul was given out lbw to Anderson on 15 but was reprieved after reviewing the decision and he settled in for another trademark long innings.

He frustrated the England bowlers with his awkward-looking open stance and intense concentration, occasionally coming out of his shell to punch the ball firmly through the off side.

England captain Andrew Strauss won the toss under grey skies and Anderson took two early wickets to reduce the touring side to 32 for two.

Anderson ended Kieran Powell’s nervous 29-ball innings of five with a fine delivery which nipped back to clip the left-hander’s off stump as he tried to leave it.

Kirk Edwards also struggled in the unfamiliar conditions and he was trapped lbw for one playing across the line but Barath and Bravo took West Indies to 83 for two at lunch.

England handed a debut to middle-order batsman Jonny Bairstow and West Indies awarded a first test cap to fast bowler Shannon Gabriel.