Tufnell's six of the best

West Indies 456 Middlesex 215-7

A Middlesex spinner claimed his season-best figures of 6 for 111 against West Indies to indicate that England may be on the right track. However, it was not the 42-year-old John Emburey - he was putting his feet up at Lord's yesterday - but Phil Tufnell.

Despite much-publicised doubts concerning his temperament the left-arm spinner is not out of contention for an England place as Raymond Illingworth made clear. "He got a good mention," the chairman of selectors said when asked whether Tufnell had been considered for Old Trafford.

Tufnell laid the foundations for an impressive analysis on Saturday when dismissing Sherwin Campbell, Brian Lara and Shivnarine Chanderpaul. Yesterday he added Ottis Gibson, Curtly Ambrose and Keith Arthurton.

The tourists, 346 for 6 overnight, batted on in the hope of building a big enough score to secure an innings victory. And they were still in touch with that target by close of play despite a fine, unbeaten 99 from the acting Middlesex captain John Carr.

Middlesex, minus Mike Gatting and Angus Fraser as well as Emburey, crumbled to 78 for 5 before Carr, who batted for nearly three-and-half hours and struck 13 boundaries, was given solid support by Dion Nash and Richard Johnson.

He was given a warm reception by spectators, who were less impressed with West Indian time-wasting tactics during the final 15 minutes. The tourists did actually bowl one more over than they were obliged to do and will lose no sleep over a few boos. Most importantly for them, Curtly Ambrose - out of action since the Edgbaston Test with a groin strain - looked back to full fitness.