Tuesday, March 10, 2009

England after Windies 544 runs

England 546 for 6 dec and 80 for 3 (Pietersen 34*, Collingwood 1*) lead West Indies 544 (Chanderpaul 133*, Nash 109) by 82 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details


Brendan Nash drives another boundary through his favourite cover region, during his maiden Test century © AFP


Shivnarine Chanderpaul produced an unflinchingly obdurate innings of 147 not out, and Brendan Nash chipped in with his maiden Test century, as West Indies stood firm against a frustrated England bowling attack to manoeuvre themselves ever closer to their first series victory since 2004, and their first triumph over England since the days of Ambrose and Walsh in 1997-98. By the close of the fourth and penultimate day of the contest, West Indies were themselves scenting an incredible final-day victory push, as they reduced England to 80 for 3 in their second innings, with Fidel Edwards producing a vicious three-over burst in the fading light that culminated in the near decapitation of Kevin Pietersen with the final ball of the day.

Nevertheless, Pietersen endured to the close on 34 not out from 27 balls, and so long as he remains, all four results will be possible. He came to the crease after the twin dismissals of Owais Shah, who completed another disappointing match by feathering his fifth ball through to the keeper, and Andrew Strauss, who chipped a return catch to the one-legged Chris Gayle for 14, having earlier survived an incredible appeal for caught-behind that once again brought the referral system into the spotlight for the wrong reasons. Alastair Cook also fell before the close, caught-behind for 24 to a nick so thin that no sound could be heard when that decision too was put to the third umpire, while Paul Collingwood survived a squeakingly tight appeal for lbw when facing up to his first delivery from Ryan Hinds.