Referrals give and take for England

Feb 5 2009

Technology dominated the second afternoon of the first Test at Sabina Park as it helped England gain an initial breakthrough and then denied them a second.

Andrew Flintoff made the first incision after being thrown the new ball for West Indies' response to the tourists' 318. England were celebrating after New Zealand umpire Tony Hill's decision to give Devon Smith not out from a leg-before appeal in the sixth over was overturned.

But it also denied Andrew Strauss' side when Steve Harmison, England's hero here five years ago, was initially awarded an early comeback success, snatched away from him minutes later.

Hill, only standing in the contest because Sri Lankan official Asoka de Silva could not obtain a visa, adjudged Ramnaresh Sarwan out after he was pinned on the back foot by Harmison.

However, after a lengthy delay, television umpire Daryl Harper advised that the ball, which struck the batsman above the knee role, would in his opinion have passed over the top of the stumps.

By that stage England had already lost one of their two challenges to umpiring calls - Flintoff erroneously contesting an lbw decision against Sarwan. West Indies took tea on 63 for one, with captain Chris Gayle in menacing mood at his home ground.

All-rounder Flintoff was given a new role by captain Andrew Strauss, having passed a fitness check to take part in the first match of a four-Test series.

It proved an explosive start as well as he dismissed left-handed opener Smith, who was struck on the back leg hopping in his crease.

Gayle countered Flintoff's fire when he lofted a straight six from his second ball, via an extraordinary checked drive, and then felt one whistle past his nose end at 89 miles per hour.

Earlier Matt Prior (64) celebrated passing 50 for the seventh time in 13 Tests to counteract the loss of Flintoff (43) early on the second morning. Ryan Sidebottom chipped in with a useful 26 not out before England were dismissed after lunch.