A match that looked tightly in England’s claws has swung towards West Indies, though the Caribbeans still need 154 runs to win the Third Test.
Chanderpaul, West Indies savior, batted for four and a half hours with immense concentration, and is still on the wicket with 81 runs.
The day began with sun shinning brightly and the West Indian side in search of a mammoth target of 455. Signs looked ominous for the Windies with Harmison bowling with hostility and accuracy. He tested Chris Gayle quite a few times and even bent his left thumb with a ferocious bouncer, forcing the Jamaican opener for some treatment from the physio. He finally succeeded in getting Gayle caught out at second slip to Paul Collingwood.
With two wickets down for the Windies, England Skipper Vuaghan introduced Monty Panesar, who had rocked the first innings of the Windies along with Sidebottom.
Following Gayle’s dismissal, Smith and Morton played determined cricket, but it was not long before the third West Indies wicket fell in the form of Smith at short leg and the score tottering at 42/3. Smith’s exit marked Chanderpaul’s entry, who played an innings of great determination and patience, as he is accustomed to.
Just after lunch interval, England had a bright chance of getting Chanderpaul at 18, but unfortunately Panesar dropped the catch at mid-on, off Harmison. Both Chanderpaul and Runako Morton consolidated the innings with the later batting for nearly three hours for his 54, before Panesar removed him leg before wicket. The fourth-wicket partnership put on 73 runs. The wicket was a morale booster to the English side before tea.
Dwayne Bravo came to the wicket following the fall of Morton at the score reading 199/4. Bravo played aggressively right from the start, looking to hit spinners out of the ground. Panesar was responsible for the fall of Bravo’s wicket, who looking to hit his fourth six, was caught at short leg by Cook.
Chanderpaul got a second life at 64, when umpire Dar declined an aggressive lbw shout off Ryan Sidebottom. Same over saw Denesh Ramdin dropped by Matt Prior diving down the leg-side in an effort to take a spectacular catch.
The West Indies ended the day with 301-5, looking for a probable win in the test. The Caribbeans have Chanderpaul on the wicket still and as long as he remains, Windies will feel a chance. If England makes inroads early on the fifth and final day, the match could be theirs.
Via: BBC
