Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 1083 Mon. June 18, 2007  
   
Sports


C'paul defies Eng again


Shivnarine Chanderpaul, with his second successive hundred, was the cornerstone of West Indies' first innings recovery against England in the fourth Test at Riverside here Sunday.

West Indies, who had been 55 for four, were bowled out for 287 at tea on the third day with Chanderpaul 136 not out.

Corey Collymore, who helped the left-hander add 58 for the last wicket, was the last man out falling lbw to left-arm spinner Monty Panesar for 13.

Left-arm quick Ryan Sidebottom took five for 88, his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket, before England were frustrated by the final pair.

Chanderpaul, who batted for 393 minutes, has now spent more than 19-and-a-half hours at the crease this series.

His 16th Test hundred, and second in as many innings after his 116 not out in England's 60-run third Test victory at Old Trafford, was the centrepiece of a total where the next best score was Dwayne Bravo's 44.

Sidebottom took three wickets Sunday after dismissing West Indies captain Daren Ganga with the first ball of the match.

He struck again soon after lunch.

Denesh Ramdin had added just six to his interval total of seven when he edged Sidebottom to Paul Collingwood at second slip.

Then, with Chanderpaul - dropped on nine Saturday by Ian Bell - still six short of a hundred, Daren Powell irresponsibly tried to hook fast bowler Stephen Harmison and skied a catch to wicketkeeper Matthew Prior.

A rare loose shot from left-hander Chanderpaul, an edged drive over the slips for four against Harmison, took him to 98.

But next ball, trying to pull Harmison, Chanderpaul was hit on his unprotected left arm and required on-field treatment.

The 32-year-old was still on 98 when Fidel Edwards was bowled by a swinging Sidebottom delivery that clipped his off-stump, leaving West Indies 229 for nine.

But having survived some testing deliveries from Harmison, Guyana's Chanderpaul cut a loose delivery for four to complete a 176-ball hundred in nearly five hours with 14 boundaries.

And with Collymore proving resolute at the other end, Chanderpaul's swept six off Panesar saw the last-wicket pair complete a fifty stand.

West Indies resumed Sunday on 132 for four with Chanderpaul unbeaten on 44 and Bravo 43 not out after rain had washed out Friday's first day before bad weather meant only three hours play was possible on Saturday.

Chanderpaul, who scored 74 in the drawn series opener at Lord's and 50 in the first innings at Old Trafford in the third Test, completed a fifth consecutive Test fifty with a single off Hoggard.

Bravo, not for the first time, gave his innings away when well set.

The all-rounder had added just one to his overnight score when he inside-edged an attempted pull off Hoggard into his off-stump, adding 86 with Chanderpaul.

Panesar, who'd taken 10 wickets at Old Trafford, was repelled as Marlon Samuels played his part in a fifty stand complied in 84 balls. However, their partnership ended when Sidebottom bowled Samuels round his legs.

England already have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series.

Picture
West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul kisses the pitch in his customary style after reaching his century against England during the third day's play of the fourth Test at the Riverside Stadium in Durham on Sunday. PHOTO: AFP