Taylor, Bairstow And Brooks Hand Lions Control

Taylor, Bairstow And Brooks Hand Lions Control

England Lions captain James Taylor celebrates his century against the West Indians in Northampton

©REUTERS / Action Images

West Indians 147 & 28-3 (Brooks 2-12) v
England Lions 341 (Taylor 118)
Tour game, Northampton, day two
Day One

England Lions captain James Taylor stroked a century and Jonathan Bairstow made 50 as the home side took control on day two of their game against the touring West Indians.

The young English side was in trouble early on, replying to the West Indian score of 147, but Taylor and Bairstow added 107 for the sixth wicket.

They hammered home their dominance late on as the West Indies closed on 28 for three, losing the wickets of Adrian Barath, Kirk Edwards and nightwatchman Fidel Edwards in their second innings.

They trail by 166 runs going into the third day of the four-day fixture - their last before the opening Test against England at Lord's on 17th May.

The West Indians began strongly, Ravi Rampaul dismissing Michael Carberry for 32 and Ian Bell for 29, Kemar Roach removing Nick Compton for 21 and Samit Patel falling to Shane Shillingford for four.

Taylor then made an excellent 118 in 179 balls and Bairstow made 50 in 93 to put England into the lead.

The partnership was broken when Bairstow was caught by Rampaul off Shillingford but Taylor progressed to his 12th first-class century before he was the last man to fall.

He was given support by Stuart Meaker (12), Jack Brooks (18) and Jade Dernbach (28 not out). Rampaul returned three for 79 and Roach three for 90.

Brooks then turned his attention to bowling and quickly trapped both Barath and Kirk Edwards in front for 14 and four respectively.

Darren Bravo opted to send out Fidel Edwards as a nightwatchman but had to face the music himself when Fidel was bowled by Matt Coles for nought.

He survived, unbeaten on nought while alongside him was Kieran Powell, on eight.

© Cricket World 2012