Shivnarine Chanderpaul rode his luck but the West Indies still found life difficult as they struggled to 4-146 at tea on the first day of the first Test against England at Lord’s on Thursday.

Chanderpaul, officially rated the world’s best Test batsman, was 42 not out having seen an lbw appeal reversed in his favour when on 15.

Marlon Samuels was unbeaten on 14, having so far helped left-hander Chanderpaul add 46 for the fifth wicket against the world’s number one ranked Test side.

Adrian Barath (42) and Darren Bravo (29) had earlier put on 54 for the third wicket after West Indies had slumped to 2-32 in the face of accurate pace bowling from James Anderson.

But both men fell shortly after lunch to leave the tourists — who’d won just two of their previous 30 Tests — faltering at 4-100.

And that nearly became 5-105 when Chanderpaul was given out to Anderson only to successfully challenge the decision on review.

England captain Andrew Strauss won the toss and obviously hoped his seamers would exploit the overcast conditions against a West Indies side renowned for a fallible top order.

West Indies went to lunch on 2-83 and by tea Anderson had the figures of 2-41 from 16 overs.