Fidel leads fightback

Fidel Edwards took three wickets, including the prize scalp of Kevin Pietersen for nought, as West Indies fought back in the first Test against England at Lord's here on Wednesday.

England, at tea on the first day, were 182 for four after fast bowler Edwards had dismissed Alastair Cook, Pietersen and Paul Collingwood in a spell of three wickets for nine runs in 22 balls.

But Ravi Bopara, newly installed at number three and playing his first Test since making a century against the West Indies at Barbados in February, was unbeaten on 72.

Together with wicketkeeper Matt Prior, he halted the tourists' advance in a fifth-wicket stand so far worth 73.

Prior, who on his Test debut two years ago made an undefeated century against the West Indies at Lord's, was 42 not out.

England resumed after lunch with Cook and Bopara unbeaten on 34 and 33 respectively.

But in the fourth over following the interval Cook was bowled off the inside edge by a full-length Edwards delivery to end a second-wicket partnership of 64.

Next ball Edwards produced a 91mph beauty which squared up Pietersen and took the outside edge with wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin holding a fine one-handed catch as he dived low to his right.

England, who had been 88 for one at lunch, were now 92 for three with Edwards on a hattrick at the start of his next over.

But Collingwood, playing his first innings since England's tour of the Caribbean ended in April after being signed but not used during the IPL, survived the hat-trick ball when a legside delivery hit his pads.

However, he did not last long with Edwards, who had been bowling in the IPL for the Deccan Chargers, dismissing Collingwood for eight when the Durham all-rounder edged to second slip Devon Smith.

The aggressive Edwards, whose round arm, 'slingshot', style can make him difficult to face had good reason to be pleased with his haul as conditions, apart from slight swing, favoured the batsmen.

Bopara then gave England something to cheer when he whipped left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn off his legs for a sixth boundary which saw him complete a 102-ball fifty.

West Indies captain Chris Gayle had earlier won the toss and elected to field in overcast conditions which looked as if they might assist his pacemen.

However, the cloud cover soon disappeared as England captain Andrew Strauss and fellow left-handed opener Cook settled in on a ground where the last six Tests have all ended in draws.

But Strauss, who made hundreds in three successive Tests against the West Indies during England's 1-0 series loss in the Caribbean, fell for 16 when caught behind after edging an intended square-cut off Jerome Taylor.