West Indies Struggle On Opening Day Against Lions

West Indies Struggle On Opening Day Against Lions

Jack Brooks bowls to Marlon Samuels on the opening day in Northampton

©REUTERS / Action Images

West Indians 147 (Bravo 51, Brooks 3-23) v
England Lions 40-1
Tour game, Northampton, day one

The West Indies batsmen struggled on the opening day of their tour game against England Lions in Northampton as they were bowled out for 147.

When play was called off early due to bad light, England's second string had reached 40 for one in their reply on a day they took charge of early on.

The tourists, resting captain Darren Sammy and led by Kirk Edwards, were in deep trouble at 29 for four in the opening session.

Northamptonshire's Jack Brooks had Adrian Barath (8) and Edwards (0) caught, Jade Dernbach removed Kieran Powell for two and Shivnarine Chanderpaul pulled Matthew Coles to Brooks having made six.

Darren Bravo and Marlon Samuels then dug in, making 51 and 32 respectively to inch the West Indians past the 100-mark but soon afterwards, they collapsed again, losing their final six wickets for 43 runs.

Both Bravo and Samuels fell to Stuart Meaker, who then bowled Shane Shillingford for two.

Coles had Denesh Ramdin caught by Joe Root for 17 before Kemar Roach (13) was trapped in front by Brooks and Ravi Rampaul (5) was caught by wicket-keeper Jonathan Bairstow off Dernbach.

Brooks returned three for 23, Meaker three for 42, Coles two for 42 and Dernbach two for 31 as the Lions' four-pronged pace attack proved too strong for the West Indians.

The only blemish for the Lions was the dismissal of Root, trapped in front by Fidel Edwards for three, when they came to bat.

Michael Carberry reached stumps unbeaten on 15 while Nick Compton had 18.

The first of three Tests between England and the West Indies begins at Lord's on 17th May.

© Cricket World 2012