Alleyne leads by example

England A skipper Mark Alleyne struck a timely half-century in Anguilla this morning but the loss of Ian Bell before lunch gave Leeward Islands an early advantage on the third day's play of the Busta Cup clash.  

Needing to reach 252 to avoid the follow on England were still 41 short on 211 for four at the interval with Alleyne making steady progress on 80 and wicketkeeper James Foster having spent 25 minutes at the crease for two.

Resuming on 119 for three, Alleyne and Bell set off slowly against pace bowlers Ricky Christopher and Goldwin Prince needing to bat out the morning without losing a wicket to recover a good position.

The first boundary, a square cut from Alleyne, came in the 13th over of the morning after around 50 minutes but the shot marked the start of a flurry from Alleyne, who brought up his 50 in 94 balls having hit six fours.

Both he and Bell were gaining in confidence but a bowling change introducing Wilden Cornwall to the attack unsettled the young Warwickshire batsman and, driving off the front foot, he squeezed the ball to point where Junie Mitchum took a two-handed catch high above his head.

Bell had been at the crease for more than three hours for his 31. He faced 116 balls and struck two boundaries and it was an impressive debut from the 18-year-old, who yesterday was given a torrid time by the Leeward pace bowlers.