Collingwood survives two chances to reach 100

LONDON, May 18 (Reuters) - England middle-order batsman Paul Collingwood took advantage of two missed chances to record his fourth test century at the expense of the luckless West Indies bowlers in the first test at Lord's today.

Collingwood made 111 from 208 balls before he was bowled by Dwayne Bravo. He added 144 for the fifth wicket with Ian Bell (59 not out) to help take England to 372 for five at tea on the second day.

Alastair Cook, who was dismissed after adding three to his overnight 102 not out, was the only other wicket to fall in the first two sessions.

Although the West Indies' pace quartet bowled with more discipline and control today they were badly let down by their fielders before lunch.

Collingwood was dropped on 31 and 36 and in the meantime survived an lbw appeal which television replays suggested would have hit the off-stump.

Jerome Taylor, whose six overs on Thursday cost 35 runs, quickly accounted for Cook, caught by Bravo at point, and should have had Collingwood caught from a straightforward chance to Daren Ganga in the gully. After scoring one more run Collingwood then padded up to a full-pitched delivery on the line of off-stump but umpire Asad Rauf turned the appeal down.

Collingwood survived a second chance when he mistimed a hook off Corey Collymore's first over of the day. Taylor, running in from deep mid-wicket, misjudged the flight of the ball which flew over his head to the boundary.

Bell took 37 minutes and 17 balls to get off the mark but the momentum had now slipped away from the West Indies, although they continued to beat the bat at regular intervals.

The pair took England to 280 for four at lunch and accelerated smoothly throughout the afternoon session, punching the ball square of the wicket on a benign pitch where the ball did not come on to the bat.

Bell brought up his 12th test 50 from 82 balls with an edged four and Collingwood struck successive boundaries through the covers and slips to reach his century from 178 balls with 13 fours.

He was somewhat surprisingly bowled by Bravo when looking well set, giving England's new wicketkeeper Matt Prior a chance to get off the mark with a firm push through mid-wicket for four.

REUTERS DH VC2120