England tail-enders frustrate Windies

Resuming the second morning on a fast and bouncy Old Trafford wicket on 296 for seven, England's bid to claim a competitive total rested with Ian Bell as they prepared to bat against a new ball just three overs old.

Warwickshire batsman Bell, unbeaten on 77 overnight, fell just four runs short of his century but was given solid support from Steve Harmison, Ryan Sidebottom and Monty Panesar before England were finally dismissed.

That defiance lifted England and Harmison struck in the three overs available before lunch to leave the tourists on 17 for one at the interval.

Inbetween innings Harmison and Liam Plunkett briefly practised bowling on the match square, unaware that there is a rule against doing so, and moved off the square after being informed by the match referee.

Fidel Edwards, West Indies' quickest bowler, signalled his intentions from an early stage and struck Harmison a glancing blow on his helmet with the fifth ball of the day.

Edwards delivered a superb five-over spell at the start of the day and finally made the breakthrough in the eighth over of the morning after Harmison and Bell had combined to add a crucial 40 runs.

Backing away from yet another short delivery, Harmison was struck on the glove by Edwards and wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin took the catch.

Instead of capitulate, however, it was another six overs before West Indies claimed another success when Bell's innings spanning nearly five hours was finally ended.

Bell had been happy to play a cautious role all morning as he progressed slowly towards his seventh Test century and his second of the series. But having progressed to 97, Bell chased a lifting delivery outside off-stump from seamer Corey Collymore and again gloved behind to Ramdin.