15 Apr 2015

West Indies hold firm after early England wickets

2:31 pm on 15 April 2015

England restricted the West Indies to 155 for four at stumps on day two of the first cricket Test in Antigua.

West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul

West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The hosts' first innings is in reply to England's total of 399 in the opening game of the three-match series.

England's lower-order capitulated in the morning play when only 58 runs were added to an already formidable overnight position of 341 for 5, however the English bowlers worked hard on an unresponsive pitch.

They should have had more success in the final hour to claim a potentially decisive advantage.

Jermaine Blackwood, who will resume on the third morning on 30 in partnership with the evergreen Shivnarine Chanderpaul (29), edged a lifting delivery from Ben Stokes to Alastair Cook at a wide first slip position.

However the batsman, on 21 at the time, was called back to the crease when television replays showed clearly that the all-rounder had delivered a no-ball.

Blackwood and Chanderpaul's fifth-wicket partnership of 56 has been vital to keeping the West Indies in with a fighting chance as they came together with the home side listing dangerously at 99 for 4, half-an-hour into the final session.

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