Share

Cook, Bell steer England home

London - Alastair Cook and Ian Bell led England to victory in the first Test against the West Indies at Lord's here on Monday.

England, set a target of 191 to win, were faltering at 57 for four before lunch on the fifth and final day.

But Cook (79) and Bell (63 not out) shared a fifth-wicket partnership of 132 that saw England, the world's No 1 ranked Test side, to the brink of victory before left-handed opener Cook was out with two runs needed when caught in the gully off West Indies captain Darren Sammy.

Bell though struck the winning boundary for a win that gave England a 1-0 lead in this three-match series heading into the second Test at Trent Bridge starting on Friday.

England resumed on Monday on 10 for two after Kemar Roach had taken two wickets for seven runs in eight balls to remove England captain Andrew Strauss - a first innings century-maker - and nightwatchman James Anderson on Sunday.

Both left-handed opener Cook and Jonathan Trott had yet to score.

Roach struck again on Monday to remove Trott for 13 with a good length ball that squared him up and took the edge with Sammy, diving to his left, holding a good catch at second slip.

And 13 also proved an unlucky number for Trott's fellow South Africa-born batsman Kevin Pietersen.

He had just pulled Test debutant Shannon Gabriel's third delivery of the innings for four when, to the fast bowler's next ball ball, he tried to repeat the stroke and got a bottom edge to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin.

England were in trouble but Cook got them going again.

He completed a 78-ball fifty featuring eight fours when he late cut off-spinner Marlon Samuels and after lunch Bell followed him to the landmark in 84 balls.

That West Indies - who hadn't won a Test match outside the Caribbean against major opposition since defeating South Africa in Port Elizabeth in 2007 and came into this game with a record of just two wins in 30 matches - started the last day with even an outside chance of victory owed much to Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Officially the world's best batsman, the Guyana left-hander made scores of 87 not out and 91 while spending more than 10 hours at the crease in this match.

Together with Samuels (86) he put on 157 for the fifth wicket in the second innings as the West Indies gave their bowlers a target to defend and a chance of a first win in 15 Tests in England.

For England, this match was a personal triumph for Stuart Broad.

The fast-medium bowler took a Test-best seven for 72 in the first innings and four for 43 in the second for a match haul of 11 for 165.

Broad, who made 169 against Pakistan at Lord's in 2010, became just the fourth player to take five wickets in an innings, 10 in a match and score a century in Lord's Tests.

Only England's Gubby Allen and Ian Botham, and Australia's Keith Miller, had previously completed that 'treble'.

Scores:

West Indies 243 (S. Chanderpaul 87 not out, S. Broad 7-72)& 345 (S. Chanderpaul 91, M. Samuels 86) v England 398 (A. Strauss 122, I. Bell 61, J. Trott 58) & 193-5 (A. Cook 79, I. Bell 63 not out)

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
25% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1472 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2250 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE