MANCHESTER, England, 15 August 2004 — Graham Thorpe’s unbeaten 89 was the cornerstone of an England fight back in the third Test against West Indies at Old Trafford here yesterday.
England were heading for a third-day follow-on at 40 for three when Thorpe joined fellow left-hander Andrew Strauss (90).
But the duo’s fourth-wicket stand of 177 in 52 overs saw England past the magic figure of 196. Nevertheless at stumps England were 233 for five, still 162 behind West Indies first innings 395 for nine declared.
Medium-pace all-rounder Dwayne Bravo tilted the game back in West Indies’ favor with a spell of two wickets for no runs in 14 balls that saw him remove Strauss and Andrew Flintoff. The 20-year-old had already dismissed England captain Michael Vaughan for 12 and finished the day with three for 36 from 19 overs.
England started the final session on 86 for three, needing a further 110 to avoid the follow-on, with opener Strauss 37 not out and Thorpe unbeaten on 17. Their partnership gave England, already an unbeatable 2-0 up in this four-match series, hope of preserving an unbeaten run which had yielded eight wins from nine Tests this year.
But Thorpe should have been out for 58 when a square slash off left-arm wrist spinner Dave Mohammed was dropped by Ramnaresh Sarwan at backward point with England 173 for three. Strauss, 10 short of what would have been his third Test hundred, was bowled off inside edge and pad.
The Middlesex captain faced 227 balls with eight fours in an innings lasting eight minutes short of five hours with his exit bringing in local hero Flintoff to a raucous reception.
However, the big-hitting all-rounder, England’s star with a Test-best 167 in their 256-run second Test win at Edgbaston, was adjudged lbw for seven. England were then 227 for five.
Earlier, England collapsed to 13 for two in four overs after a bizarre sequence of events.
They walked out after lunch expecting to continue fielding with West Indies on 395 for nine. Pedro Collins, who had retired hurt on 19 and had eight stitches inserted in his chin after being hit by Flintoff, was set to bat again
