Records Fall On Dramatic Day At Edgbaston

Records Fall On Dramatic Day At Edgbaston

Tino Best celebrates his maiden Test half-century at Edgbaston. He would go on to make 95 - the best score in Test history by a number 11 batsman.

©REUTERS / Action Images

West Indies 426 (Ramdin 107no, Best 95) v
England 221-5 (Pietersen 78, Bell 76no)
Third Test, Edgbaston, day four
Scorecard | Day One | Day Two | Day Three

The third Test between England and the West Indies at Edgbaston sprung into life on the penultimate day as a host of records were broken.

Tino Best scored 95 batting at number 11, overtaking Zaheer Khan's previous mark of 75 and Andrew Strauss took the catch to dismiss him which was his 120th in Tests, which drew him level with Sir Ian Botham and Colin Cowdrey.

The West Indies were finally dismissed for 426 after Denesh Ramdin made 107, sharing a partnership of 143 with Best and England then closed on 221 for five.

When Ramdin reached his second Test century, he pulled out a piece of paper that appeared to criticise former West Indian captain Sir Viv Richards.

His runs came from 183 balls and he hit nine fours while Best faced 112 balls, hitting 14 fours and a maximum as he beat his previous best score in first-class cricket by 44 runs. He celebrated wildly after reaching his half-century and was disappointed to fall just five short of what would have been a remarkable century.

England quickly removed Ravi Rampaul in the morning, caught by Matthew Prior off Steven Finn and might have thought about getting on with their innings, but they were delayed until after lunch.

The partnership was finally broken when best top-edged Onions (4-88) to be caught by Strauss.

England then slipped to 49 for three when they did get round to batting when Strauss (17), Alastair Cook (4) and Jonathan Trott (17) fell cheaply.

Best, Rampaul and Darren Sammy grabbed a wicket apiece before England, through Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell, regained the initiative.

Pietersen reminded onlookers of why he will be missed in one-day cricket by smashing 11 fours and a six on the way to 78 in 81 balls before he fell to Marlon Samuels.

At his home ground, Bell played a fine innings to be unbeaten on 76, hitting ten fours but the West Indies finished with a flourish as Best bowled Jonny Bairstow for 18.

Steven Finn was not out on nought having done his job by seeing off 20 balls.

Marlon Samuels top scored for the West Indies on day three with 76 after the opening two days were abandoned due to rain.

England lead the series 2-0.

© Cricket World 2012