Ramprakash rescues England

BRIDGETOWN, March 13: Mark Ramprakash hit his maiden Test century as England continued to battle their way right back into the fifth Test ag...

BRIDGETOWN, March 13: Mark Ramprakash hit his maiden Test century as England continued to battle their way right back into the fifth Test against West Indies at Kensington Oval today.

With left-hander Graham Thorpe supporting him with an unbeaten 84, England denied West Indies a wicket in the morning session to reach 292 for five at lunch.

Ramprakash was then 105 not out and England had made a remarkable recovery from the disastrous first morning which saw them lose their first four wickets for 53.

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Resuming at 229 for five, the England pair batted cautiously against the West Indies fast bowlers. Ramprakash, playing in only his second Test of the series, took 100 minutes to score the 20 runs he needed to reach three figures. His century came with his 13th four after 377 minutes at the crease and facing 283 balls.

Thorpe, who has a reputation for failing to turn fifties into major scores, was only 16 short of his sixth Test hundred at lunch as their sixth wicket stand reached 161.

West Indies reliedmainly on three fast bowlers, Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose and Nixon McLean and seemed happy to restrict the England scoring to 63 in the two hours.