Cricket: Chanderpaul defies six-wicket Broad

STUART Broad revelled in a great day for him and England as the hosts took charge of the first Investec Test against West Indies at Lord’s.

The paceman claimed six for 72 as the tourists were limited to 243 for nine on day one, with only Shivnarine Chanderpaul providing meaningful resistance with his 87 not out off 175 balls.

Broad said: “It’s a very proud day for me and more import-antly we’re in a great position in the Test match.

“No one was expecting 100 all out, we knew it was going to be a long day’s cricket, so we had to be patient and we thought seven down at night would be a really good day, so to have them nine down is really pleasing.”

The West Indies achieved what was about a par total thanks to their habitual top runscorer and some acceptable support down the order.

England captain Andrew Straus won the toss and got the call right by opting to bowl.

But Adrian Barath drove especially well through the covers and down the ground and numbered nine boundaries in his 42.

His opening partner, Kieran Powell, had made only five when James Anderson brought one back superbly to hit off-stump.

Barath also lost his second partner to Anderson, who trapped No 3 Kirk Edwards lbw.

Barath found a new ally in Darren Bravo and the third-wicket pair saw off Anderson’s first nine-over stint without further loss, more than doubling the score in a half-century stand.

The afternoon exchanges initially favoured England. Broad called for an lbw review against Barath and the no-ball discovered on replay resulted in an extra delivery which accounted for the opener at the end of the over. Barath threw the bat at a wide ball, and fell to a good head-high catch by Anderson at the second attempt in the gully.

Bravo was then the fall guy in a run-out mix-up. He found himself running towards a near stationary Chanderpaul, who had pushed Graeme Swann behind square on the leg-side and was stranded by almost a full 22 yards.

England thought they had Chanderpaul for just 15 but a review of an lbw decision in favour of Anderson showed that the ball was missing off stump.

England were shut out for the rest of the session as Chanderpaul and Marlon Samuels enjoyed an 81-run partnership.

Chanderpaul reached his 50 from 102 balls in early evening, but soon found himself batting with the tail when Broad struck twice in the space of six balls.

Samuels threw his hands at a wide delivery and was neatly caught by Jonny Bairstow at point and Denesh Ramdin edged to slip. Broad was in full cry and Darren Sammy aimed to leg yet edged to gully.

Broad had his fifth wicket via a return catch from Kemar Roach, before snapping up Fidel Edwards caught-behind from the last ball of the day. But there was still no shifting Chanderpaul.