It is perhaps difficult to pinpoint whose fortunes took a turn for the better on day two of the third Test at Barbados between England and the West Indies.
England, carrying an unassailable two-nil series lead, had lost opener Marcus Trescothick cheaply the previous evening, but were looking to bat out the day and build a substantial lead over their counterparts from the Caribbean.
The West Indies, on the other hand, were looking to bowl out the English batsmen - a plan justified by captain Brian Lara's attacking field settings - and keep their slim hopes of salvaging a drawn series alive.
Tino Best and Fidel Edwards opened the bowling on the second day and it was the former who should have had the first wicket of the morning after English skipper Michael Vaughan nicked a regulation catch to Ramnaresh Sarwan at second slip.
Sarwan grassed the chance, however, and the very quiet crowd rummaged around for their horns and whistles for jeering purposes.
The sudden appearance of atmosphere fired the West Indians up, for the first ball of Edwards' next over was chased by Butcher and edged straight into the very safe hands of Chris Gayle at first slip - a regrettable stroke to say the least.
When Vaughan was claimed soon after by Edwards (4-70) playing a loose hook shot, England were in a spot of bother at 33/3.
Former captain Nasser Hussain was joined by Graham Thorpe at the crease, and although they were able to grind out a 32-run partnership, there was never a doubt that the bowlers where on top.
When Hussain gifted Corey Collymore his first wicket for the series, cleaned up with a ball travelling dead straight, the West Indians knew they were in with a shot of securing a handy first-innings lead - and showed it, too.
A fired up Best continued to relentlessly roar in after lunch from the Joel Garner End and was soon rewarded for his efforts, removing the dangerous Andy Flintoff who spooned a simple catch to Collymore in the cover region.
Thorpe could only watch on helplessly as Chris Read (13), Ashley Giles (11) and Matthew Hoggard (0) fell in quick succession, and decided to take matters into his own hands.
To be fair, he should've been dismissed lbw to Collymore with the second ball after tea - or at least caught behind, if there was any bat in it - but his patience in turning down dozens of singles in order to protect the tail paid handsome dividends in the end.
The chanting of the Barmy Army only became louder as Thorpe and Simon Jones continued to frustrate the West Indian bowlers, desperate for a lead of any sort. The wicket finally fell at the end of Best's thirteenth over when Jones smacked one right at Sarwan's head at short leg. Sarwan, who had previously been off the field for x-rays after being hit by a nasty bouncer yesterday, shot his hands up, caught the ball cleanly and redeemed himself to an extent for dropping Vaughan earlier in the piece.
However, the West Indies were aware that they might still have to work for the final wicket. Thorpe ensured they did, and when Lara handed the ball to his strike bowler Edwards, Thorpe responded by smashing a pull shot and straight drive into the fence to register his thirteenth Test century.
He and Stephen Harmison were able to add a crucial 39 for the last wicket, and give England a slender but psychologically important two-run lead on the first innings. 71 runs had been added for the last two wickets, Thorpe making 53 of them.
After a rather circumspect start, Gayle took to Harmison, pulling three consecutive balls to the boundary off the front and back foot.
The very next ball, however, Harmison put a dampener on the fireworks by pitching one up after his barrage of short deliveries, causing Gayle to drive over the top of it and removing his off stump.
In the fading light, Lara and Daren Ganga played very cautiously before umpires Rudi Koertzen and Darrell Hair offered them the light. They accepted with glee, and retreated to their dressing sheds to prepare for fighting another day.
A day of mixed fortunes for both side; England would be very disappointed with their top order capitulation but overjoyed by the return to form by Graham Thorpe, whereas the home side will be able only to wonder what may have been had those vital last wickets been seized earlier.
The West Indies will resume tomorrow at 21/1, a lead of 19 runs with three days to play.
