Ramdin takes dig at Richards

Best hits highest score by No 11 on an eventful day

West Indies pace bowler Tino Best smashed 95 on Sunday to record the highest score by a number 11 batsmen in the history of Test cricket on the fourth day of the third and final Test against England at Edgbaston.

Best added 143 for the final wicket with wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin, who completed his second Test hundred to remain unbeaten on 107 in a West Indies first innings total of 426 in the rain-interrupted match. England have already won the series 2-0.

Ramdin was solid but outshone by the flamboyance of Best. He had contributed just eight runs when the 50 stand was registered and 32 for the 100 partnership, which came in 117 deliveries.

When Ramdin reached three figures with a single off Tim Bresnan to fine leg, he took a handwritten note out of his pocket and showed it to the commentary box. It read ‘Yeah Viv Talk Nah’ in an apparent reference to criticism from former West Indies captain Viv Richards who is commentating for BBC Radio.

England reached 111 for three at tea with Kevin Pietersen was 45 not out and Ian Bell was on 20, after Best continued to impress.

He dismissed England captain Andrew Strauss (17), caught at first slip, after Ravi Rampaul trapped Alastair Cook (4) leg before wicket and Darren Sammy forced Jonathan Trott to play on for 17. Best frequently clocked 145 kms an hour.

Score board

WEST INDIES (I Innings; O/n: 280/8):
Ramdin (not out)    107
Rampaul c Prior b Finn    2
Best c Strauss b Onions    95
Extras (B-4, LB-8, W-1)    13
Total (all out, 129.3 overs)    426
Fall of wickets: 1-49, 2-90, 3-99, 4-128, 5-152, 6-208, 7-241, 8-267, 9-283.
Bowling: Onions 29.3-7-88-4, Bresnan 34-9-111-3, Finn 32-6-109-3, Swann 26-5-85-0, Trott 8-1-21-0.
ENGLAND (I Innings):
Strauss c Bravo b Best    17
Cook lbw Rampaul    4
Trott b Sammy    17
Pietersen (batting)    45
Bell (batting)    20
Extras (B-1, LB-6, NB-1)    8
Total (for 3 wkts, 30 overs)    111
Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-40, 3-49.
Bowling: Best 7-1-25-1, Rampaul 7-1-18-1, Sammy 8-1-22-1, Narine 8-1-39-0.