Sun, Aug 01, 2004 page23

• Flintoff hits seven sixes and 17 fours as England rallies

  • AP
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  Andrew Flintoff converted his fourth test century into a career-best 167 Friday as England took control against the West Indies on the second day of the second test at Edgbaston.

  Flintoff hit seven sixes and 17 fours as England, resuming the day at 313 for five, reached 566 for nine declared half-hour before tea.

  "My shot selection was all right," Flintoff said. "I left a few balls, blocked a few balls and then scored when I thought a ball was in the area I could hit."

  But captain Brian Lara and deputy captain Ramnaresh Sarwan hit back, compiling an unfinished 162-run stand as both teams totaled 437 runs Friday.

  Lara was 74 not out and Sarwan 87 not out, lifting the West Indies to 184 for two. The visitors, who lost the opener at Lord's earlier this week, trail by 382 runs.

  Lara, 35, became the first player to cross 1,000 runs in 2004, lashing 11 fours and a six off 103 balls in 153 minutes. The 24-year-old Sarwan hit 16 boundaries off 127 deliveries in 164 minutes.

  "We have now got to try and get through to lunch on Saturday without losing a wicket, and then take it from there," Sarwan said.

  Flintoff, who resumed on 42, raced to his century in the first session and continued to produce after lunch.

  Along with wicketkeeper Geraint Jones, they stretched their sixth-wicket stand to 170 from 190 balls.

  But just after the pair raised the century partnership off 123 balls, a Flintoff hook barely cleared deep backward square leg and a couple of edges flew just wide of the solitary slip, all off Jermaine Lawson.

  The Jamaican fast bowler also grassed a sharp return catch off a straight drive when Flintoff was at 79.

  In the next over, he connected off Lawson for his third six. It was nearly caught by his dad, Colin, who was watching from the top deck of the Ryder stand.

  "I picked my dad out with one of the sixes," Flintoff said. "He plays at the weekend and comes home every week telling me what a great catch he has taken. But I think today he has proved to everyone that he is terrible. I thought he was going to come over the balcony at one stage."

  His fourth test century in his 38th match came just after, when he hit two pulled fours, his 13th and 14th. The century came off 122 balls in three hours. Flintoff's second 50 spanned 39 deliveries.

  Jones, resuming on 27, contributed 74 off 97 balls with 12 boundaries.

  Seamer Corey Collymore broke the partnership when Jones snicked an outswinger to the wicketkeeper.

  Flintoff added a further 46 with Ashley Giles (24) and 44 with Matthew Hoggard (15 not out).

  He passed his previous best of 142 against South Africa at Lord's a year ago and reached 150 with his fifth six, which was followed by another six in the next ball from Omari Banks.

  He added a third in the same over before he was undone by a Bravo slower ball and plainly lbw.

  Banks bowled James Anderson off the inside edge to leave England 525 for nine.

  But last-man Steve Harmison had a personal best 31 not out as he and Hoggard added 41 not out before England declared.

  Harmison hit five fours, one from a cheeky reverse sweep, and a six off just 18 deliveries.

  Bravo took four for 76 off 24 overs to lead the West Indian attack.

  Hoggard removed both openers with the new ball just before tea.

  Devon Smith played to leg and spooned off the leading edge to gully, where Giles leapt to make a left-handed catch over his head.

  In the next over, Chris Gayle's leg stump was toppled, and he came too far across his stumps.

  But Lara and Sarwan responded to the crisis of 24 for two with some fluent Caribbean stroke play.

  The pair brought up their 11th century partnership just before both passed 50.

  Sarwan totaled 50 with his 10th four, off 78 balls.
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