CRICKET:TIM BRESNAN led England to the brink of a series-clinching victory on day three of the second Test against West Indies at Trent Bridge.

England initially fell well short of expectations with the bat, losing their last eight wickets for 169 to take what looked a narrow lead of 58 on the first innings. But by stumps the tourists had slumped to 61 for six, Bresnan taking three for 10 after James Anderson and Stuart Broad had both struck with the new ball.

England had started the day on 259 for two and were eyeing a run-feast and a total of at least 550.

Instead, West Indies defied expectations with two sessions of spirited bowling only for their batsmen to crumble as England’s pack of seamers sensed blood.

Bresnan, who had earlier made 39 not out, capped a productive evening with two wickets in the penultimate over.

Kevin Pietersen made a thrilling 72 yesterday but added just eight more before Ravi Rampaul nipped one back off the seam to have him lbw. Strauss, resuming on 102, had yet to face a ball when Pietersen fell, but clipped Shane Shillingford for four to get off the mark for the day.

Ian Bell’s first runs came with a classy cut for four off Rampaul and he then used his feet to deposit Shillingford over mid-on.

He was dropped on 15 but made just seven more before falling to the fifth delivery with the new ball. Kemar Roach was the bowler, going full and fast to Bell and clattering the front pad.

Aleem Dar rejected this appeal but it was overturned on review to make it 300 for four.

At 70 behind there was still serious work ahead of Jonny Bairstow, who was struck in the chest first up and almost gloved Roach’s next bouncer just short of gully.

Roach took that as his cue to bomb Bairstow with short deliveries and the Yorkshireman, playing his second Test, failed the examination.

Overnight: West Indies 370 (M N Samuels 117, D J G Sammy 106; T T Bresnan 4-104). England 259-2 (A J Strauss 102 no, K P Pietersen 72 no).

ENGLAND

First Innings

A J Strauss c Ramdin b Sammy 141

K P Pietersen lbw b Rampaul 80

I R Bell lbw b Roach 22

J M Bairstow c Chanderpaul b Roach 4

M J Prior b Sammy 16

T T Bresnan not out 39

S C J Broad c Sammy b Shillingford 25

G P Swann c Sammy b Samuels 1

J M Anderson lbw b Samuels 0

Extras b9 lb10 w3 nb19 pens 0 41

Total (123.4 overs) 428

Bowling: Roach 25 1 90 2 Rampaul 32 8 75 3 Sammy 34 3 120 2 Shillingford 26 4 110 1 Samuels 6.4 2 14 2.

WEST INDIES

Second Innings

A B Barath lbw b Anderson 7

K O A Powell b Anderson 1

D M Bravo lbw b Bresnan 22

S Chanderpaul c Trott b Broad 11

M N Samuels not out 13

D Ramdin lbw b Bresnan 6

K A Edwards lbw b Bresnan 0

D J G Sammy not out 0

Extras b1 pens 0 1

Total 6 wkts (26 overs) 61

Bowling: Anderson 7 2 12 2 Broad 11 4 36 1 Swann 2 1 2 0 Bresnan 6 2 10 3