West Indies victory in sight

BRIDGETOWN: West Indies captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul completed a solid, unbeaten century and then got further joy as his team moved within sight of victory in the first Digicel Test at Kensington Oval yesterday. The 30-year-old Chanderpaul atoned for his disappointment of falling for 92 in the first innings to hit 153 not out in a second innings total of 371 all out just before tea. It was his 14th century in 85 Tests and first against Pakistan. The Guyanese batted for 349 minutes, faced 254 balls and struck ten fours and two sixes.

“It’s always good to get a Test hundred. It doesn’t matter who you are playing against. I know it’s my first against Pakistan and I am happy,” Chanderpaul said. Set 573 for victory in two days and a session or a minimum of 214 overs, Pakistan reached 113 for four in even time off 23 overs by the close of the third day yesterday. They had a disastrous start as left-hander Salman Butt edged the third ball of the innings from first innings destroyer Fidel Edwards to second slip where Chris Gayle held an excellent, low catch before a run was scored. More disaster struck in an eventful third over which was completed by Reon King after Edwards left the field with a strained hamstring injury after the second ball.

Immediately Yasir Hameed drove to extra-cover and captain Younis Khan raced down the pitch for a single. Chanderpaul pounced on the ball and hit the stumps in one motion with both batsmen stranded at the striker’s end looking at each other helplessly as Younis was run out, also without scoring. Then Hameed (11) pushed at an outswinger from Daren Powell and edged a catch to wicket-keeper Courtney Browne moving to his right. Bazid Khan, in his first Test, and Asim Kamal both played some positive, well-timed strokes in taking the score to 46 for three off  9.4 overs before rain stopped play just before 4 pm.

It held up play for 54 minutes and in the second ball after the resumption, Bazid was leg before wicket on the backfoot to Corey Collymore for 23 as he played back and across. Earlier, West Indies put the Pakistanis to the sword after resuming on 168 for four with Chanderpaul on 37 and Wavell Hinds 14. Chanderpaul reached his half-century in 140 minutes off 106 deliveries with three boundaries.

Mixing solid defence with excellent strokes, the pair brought up their century partnership in 134 minutes off 207 balls with Chanderpaul on 61 and Hinds 31. They carried their partnership to 134 before Hinds missed a drive off leg-spinner Danish Kaneria in the last over before lunch and was bowled for 52. He batted for 161 minutes, faced 129 deliveries and struck six fours. His century came in 247 minutes off 186 balls and contained six fours and a six. He promptly celebrated by pulling over mid-wicket for six. (CMC)