Swann spins England to huge lead

Graeme Swann takes his second wicket as dogged Daren Powell edges to slip

View photo story

Graeme Swann’s maiden five-wicket haul in Tests bowled England into a formidable position in the third Test against West Indies at the Antigua Recreation Ground.

The tourists dismissed West Indies for 285 in 89.2 overs, leaving the hosts 81 runs short of the follow-on target.

But with some of their pace attack walking wounded, England decided to bat again in the final half an hour, with the aim of increasing their advantage.

They closed day three on 31 for one, a lead of 312. Captain Andrew Strauss was the man to go, caught at slip off Fidel Edwards.

Swann bowled with clever flight and old-fashioned patience against some unsure West Indian batting, with the distinct exception of Ramnaresh Sarwan, who hit a masterful 94.

His hot-headed departure, trying to smote Swann over the top to reach his hundred, was a microcosm of the hosts’ greater failings.

Swann’s 5-57 represented the second-best figures by a spinner in St John’s, after Muttiah Muralitharan’s 5-35 in 1997.

Such was West Indies’ position at 55 for one at the start of play, it scarcely mattered that nightwatchman Daren Powell batted through much of the morning.

Powell edged through gully three times in the first five overs, but otherwise showed a battling temperament in seeing off the fast men. It made some amends for his dreadful bowling performance in England's first innings.

Swann gave an indication of his potency three balls into the day when he ripped one past Devon Smith’s outside edge.

Smith greeted the later reappearance of Swann by advancing down the track and flogging him over mid-on.

West Indies had not lost a wicket in the first hour, but their momentum was lost when Smith, on 38, played a brainless swipe and was bowled by Swann to the second ball after the drinks break.

Ramnaresh Sarwan throws away the chance of a century by holing out to midwicket off Swann

Sarwan, fresh from a century at Sabina Park, looked in wonderful touch from the outset, whipping James Anderson off middle stump for a fine four.

Powell appeared to nick Swann behind with the score at 118, but he was reprieved by umpire Rudi Koertzen.

His 86-ball vigil finally ended when Swann lured him forward and he edged to Paul Collingwood at slip to depart for 22.

Ryan Hinds, recalled for the aborted Test at North Sound, was fortunate to survive two decent lbw shouts from Swann before lunch.

Sarwan greeted the afternoon session with a glorious flick off his legs for four, and the nimble Guyanese batsman played three more beautiful shots in the arc between gully and cover.

Hubris appeared to get the better of him when Swann arrived for the 50th over, almost gloving a chance to Prior.

But he connected with a sweet drive through cover in the same over, and followed up by blasting over long-on for six.

Andrew Flintoff squared Hinds up with a searing bouncer which the left-hander spliced just short of a diving Kevin Pietersen at gully. The Bajan left-hander countered by swatting a Pietersen long-hop for six.

Sarwan’s acknowledgement of his fifty, cutting through point, bore the look of a man who knew his work was only fractionally done.

But, as so often, Flintoff broke a partnership of 70 when he induced a nick from Hinds.

For once, Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s stay was a brief one, the left-hander driving loosely at Stuart Broad.

Devon Smith takes a wild swipe at Swann to the second ball after the first drinks break in St John's

England still needed the prize wicket of Sarwan - and they shelled their first chance when Broad allowed a caught-and-bowled chance to fall through his hands when the batsman had made 63.

Sarwan dabbed and drove his way into the nineties, dominating a half-century partnership with Brendan Nash.

But then, six short of his 13th Test hundred, Sarwan inexplicably tried to hit Swann over the top, only succeeding in finding Flintoff at midwicket. Sarwan almost had to be dragged off the field he was so distraught.

Denesh Ramdin followed to the next ball with a limp shot at a Swann full toss, offering the bowler a return catch.

Nash hung around 81 balls for his 18, but eventually dabbed at Flintoff, offering third slip catching practice.

Swann completed his five-for when Sulieman Benn, padding up, was lbw for nought. Jerome Taylor hit out with gusto for his 19 before swiping straight up in the air, ending West Indies’ patchy effort.

Edwards came out nursing a few grievances, bowling upwards of 90mph. He sent Strauss packing with a quick ball across his body, which Strauss edged to Smith at second slip.

Despite their position of strength, England curiously elected to send out a nightwatchman - Anderson - and he was given a life when dropped by Hinds at third slip.

Anderson and Alastair Cook will resume on four tomorrow.

Flintoff and Steve Harmison appeared to struggle in the searing Antiguan heat, but they are both expected to take the field when West Indies bat again.