England dominate with ball, Samuels on verge of century

Marlon Samuels - Cropped

Marlon Samuels' unbeaten 94 spared West Indies' blushes on day one of the second Test against England, with the tourists impressing at St George's.

After failing to finish off the Caribbean hosts in the drawn first Test, Alastair Cook's men set about redeeming that result to restrict West Indies to 188-5 at stumps.

A rain delay of just under two hours and humid conditions created ideal swing bowling conditions that James Anderson - fresh from becoming England's all-time leading Test wicket-taker in the series opener - took immediate advantage of after Cook won the toss and put West Indies in to bat. 

Anderson (1-18) sent Kraigg Brathwaite packing - his inswinging delivery threaded the gap between bat and pad and bowled the opener in the third over.

Devon Smith was put down by Gary Ballance at leg slip with West Indies on 26-1, but Smith's reprieve proved short-lived as he was controversially given out three balls later for 15 when he was adjudged to have nicked to Jos Buttler behind the stumps. 

Smith was initially reluctant to walk and seemingly for good reason as a later replay suggested there was daylight between bat and ball and he had in fact connected with the ground rather than Chris Jordan's delivery. 

Dwayne Bravo (35) patiently steadied the ship before he flicked to Cook at first slip off the bowling of Stuart Broad (1-42) to underdo his hard work, one of two quickfire wickets to fall prior to tea. 

Ben Stokes (1-33) made light of an injury scare earlier in the afternoon session - he fell awkwardly as he fielded and required treatment on what appeared to be a knee problem - by removing Shivnarine Chanderpaul (1) cheaply on his second ball of the day when he skewed to the recalled Moeen Ali at backward point. 

Cook dropped Samuels on 32 straight after tea, his partnership with Jermaine Blackwood (26) progressing to 55 before the latter was given out lbw on review - making Jordan (2-40) the only multiple wicket-taker.

Samuels cut loose with a flurry of boundaries to cruise past his half century, and was denied the chance to move to three figures when bad light halted play - with just 70 overs bowled on Tuesday.

Denesh Ramdin is the other not out batsman, with the wicket-keeper making six off 35 deliveries.

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