New No. 3 Ravi Bopara’s second successive Test hundred was the centerpiece of England’s 289 for seven on the first day of their series opener with the West Indies at Lord’s on Wednesday.
Bopara was a Test-best 118 not out at stumps in his first Test since making 104 against the West Indies in Barbados in February and only fifth in all.
The 24-year-old Essex all-rounder, dropped on 76 and 100, had faced 246 balls with 14 fours in an innings so far lasting nearly six hours.
Bopara prevented a complete collapse against Fidel Edwards, who took four wickets for 53 runs in 19 overs including the prize scalp of Kevin Pietersen for nought.
Bopara said he had not been nervous at all as he approached the century mark.
“I felt really relaxed, but I wanted to reach it off a single and not a boundary so I could run down the other end and really breathe it in,” Bopara said.
Fast bowler Edwards might have had a few more had not Bopara been missed off a simple chance and Stuart Broad, dropped twice off the Bajan’s bowling, given four reprieves as the West Indies put down a potentially costly six catches after the tea interval.
Broad was eventually out for 38 when he cut left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn, who had dropped him off his own bowling, to Jerome Taylor at point after a stand of 69 with Bopara had taken England to 262 for six. Benn then had Test debutant Tim Bresnan lbw for nine, with Graeme Swann seven not out at the close.
England, having lost the toss, were yesterday bowled out for 377 on the second day of the first Test.
Graeme Swann was a Test-best 63 not out after fast bowler Fidel Edwards had taken six wickets for 92 runs, including two wickets in two balls after lunch to end the innings.
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REUTERS, CENTURION, SOUTH AFRICA
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