JOIN USEngland, boosted by a flurry of 10 no balls from the West Indies attack, reached 123 for one in their first innings at tea on the second day of the second Test at Trent Bridge on Saturday.
They trailed by 247 after the tourists were bowled out shortly before lunch for 370 with Marlon Samuels (117) and Darren Sammy (106) rescuing the visiting cause in a stand of 204.
Captain Andrew Strauss was on 45 with Jonathan Trott on 35, both men increasing in confidence and stepping up the pace markedly near the interval. The batsmen had Kemar Roach to thank with eight no balls in 10 overs. The paceman had paid a bigger price against Alastair Cook, who was twice caught behind by Denesh Ramdin off his bowling only for no balls to be called.
Cook was finally dismissed for 24 - caught with some justice by Ramdin - but off the bowling of Ravi Rampaul. Earlier, England talisman Tim Bresnan blew away West Indies' main resistance with the key wickets of Samuels and Sammy. Resuming on 304 for six, West Indies had started the day well with captain Sammy reaching his maiden Test century.
Score Board
WEST INDIES (I Innings, O/n: 304-6)
Samuels c Anderson b Bresnan 117
Sammy c Pietersen b Bresnan 106
Roach c Strauss b Bresnan 7
Shillingford st Prior b Swann 16
Rampaul (not out) 6
Extras: (B-8, LB-18, W-1, NB-1) 28
Total (All out, 109.2 overs) 370
Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-26, 3-42, 4-63, 5-125, 6-136, 7-340, 8-341, 9-360.
Bowling: Anderson 30-12-73-2, Broad 27-4-81-2; Bresnan 27-4-104-4; Swann 20.2-4-62-2; Trott 5-0-24-0.
ENGLAND (I Innings)
Strauss (batting) 45
Cook c Ramdin b Rampaul 24
Trott (batting) 35
Extras: (B-4, LB-5, NB-10) 19
Total: (For 1 wkt, 34 overs) 123
Fall of wickets: 1-43.
Bowing: Roach 10-1-31-0; Rampaul 11-2-28-1; Sammy 10-0-46-0; Shillingford 3-0-9-0.