Windies lose Chanderpaul on the cheap

Chanderpaul, declared fit after he incurred ankle ligament damage during his unbeaten 116 in Birmingham, led something of a charmed life before succumbing to a skier for 33.

It took a fine catch from Kevin Pietersen, running back from midwicket, to give the recalled Liam Plunkett the scalp just as the tourists, who moved to 114 for three at the halfway stage of the innings, were getting into their stride.

Chanderpaul's departure came in the third over of a delayed second optional powerplay, moments after he had lofted left-arm spinner Monty Panesar for a straight six.

Twice he edged Plunkett and survived, the first when on one falling short of Alastair Cook at second slip and the latter, on 12, flying wide of first slip for four after being turned around by a beauty.

Chanderpaul tested the injury at indoor practice on Friday and was bidding to extend his extraordinary run of form on the tour which had seen him pass 50 in all seven of his previous Test and one-day international innings.

West Indies captain Chris Gayle rode his luck to frustrate England's bid to claim the series 2-1.

Gayle, one of the most destructive batsmen in the world game, was dropped twice in the first half of the innings.

Alastair Cook failed to cling onto a ferocious drive at short extra cover off the bowling of Plunkett, when Gayle was on four, and Ian Bell floored a straightforward chance at point from a mistimed cut off James Anderson, when the Jamaican left-hander was on 20.

Bell had held on in the same position off Anderson to remove Devon Smith early on to give England a boost after Gayle won the toss. But the missed chances allowed a half-century partnership for the second wicket come up in 69 balls and deterred Paul Collingwood from taking the second optional powerplay after 15 overs.