Windies in familiar pit after Bravo’s star turn

The hosts will now fancy their chances of chasing a victory target on Monday and making it 3-0 in the four-match series. Brian Lara became the fourth and quickest player to score 10,000 Test runs but was out just two balls after reaching the milestone, gloving a fierce Flintoff delivery to Andrew Strauss at slip for seven. Only Ramnaresh Sarwan made a half century but he fell for 60, edging Harmison to Marcus Trescothick in the slips late on in the extended final session.

When bad light stopped play at the close, only tailenders Fidel Edwards and Corey Collymore remained.

England’s batsmen had earlier been on course to reach first innings parity with West Indies, who made 395-9 declared, before Bravo removed Graham Thorpe, Geraint Jones and Giles in quick succession after lunch.

The 20-year-old Trinidadian, who only made his debut in the first Test defeat at Lord’s and has been a rare bright spot for the West Indies on tour, finished with Test-best figures of 6-55.

Thorpe made a brave 114, withstanding a torrid short spell from fast bowler Edwards before Bravo induced a loose drive to Lara in the slips.

BRIEF SCORES

West Indies: 395 all out & 161 for 9 (R Sarwan 60, C Gayle 42; A Flintoff 3/26, A Giles 3/43, S Harmison 3/44) vs England: 330 all out (G Thorpe 114, A Strauss 90; D Bravo 6/55, C Collymore 2/66)