Panesar takes wicket with his first delivery

LONDON, May 19 (Reuters) Monty Panesar took a wicket with his first ball of the match today as England tightened their grip on the first test against West Indies at Lord's.

The left-arm spinner beat and bowled Devon Smith for 21 after West Indies had set out on the long haul towards avoiding the follow-on following England's declaration at their overnight total of 553 for five. At lunch on the third day West Indies were 97 for two.

Liam Plunkett dismissed the dangerous Chris Gayle with the second ball of his opening over to make the early breakthrough.

The deceptively languid Gayle had raced to 30 with five fours from 39 balls when Plunkett took over from Matthew Hoggard at the Nursery End.

Daren Ganga scrambled a single to leg from the first ball then Gayle was yorked with the second which knocked back his off-stump as he groped in vain to locate the ball.

Steve Harmison, with plenty to prove after his dismal displays during England's wretched Ashes campaign, was relaxed and controlled and generated more pace than the West Indies' fast bowlers had on the first two days.

But Hoggard was unable to get the ball to swing and Gayle dragged a boundary through mid-off then turned a couple of fuller deliveries through mid-wicket for further fours.

Gayle stood straight to crash fours off Harmison through mid-on and mid-off in the same over and was threatening to take control when Plunkett deceived him with a full-pitched ball.

Smith, another left-hander, square-drove Plunkett to the boundary and Hoggard was reintroduced into the attack from the Pavilion End.

Smith took successive fours with bottom-handed drives through extra-cover off Hoggard and gave Plunkett the same treatment in the same area.

Hoggard then left the field after bowling the first ball of his 11th over, which was completed by Paul Collingwood. A report from the England dressing room said he had strained the inside of his left thigh.

Panesar was introduced into the attack 10 minutes before lunch and was immediately successful when Smith prodded forward and was comprehensively bowled.

REUTERS SAM VV1920