Chanderpaul steers West Indies
Monday, 18 June 2007
England nipped out two wickets on the third morning at Chester-le-Street but, once again, one West Indian stood doggedly in their way: Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who was dropped by Ian Bell on 9 Saturday afternoon, according to Cricinfo.
Play began on time for the first occasion in the Test and, under grey skies, Matthew Hoggard gained prodigious swing to both Chanderpaul and Dwayne Bravo.
The pair dropped anchor, wary of Hoggard's immaculate line, though capitalising on Steve Harmison's occasional waywardness. Harmison is undoubtedly improving with each game but - so far, at least - he isn't gaining much bounce off this pitch.
Hoggard, on the other hand, would happily roll up the surface and carry it around with him.
Twice Bravo was beaten, fishing inauspiciously at Hoggard's natural away swinger and, on the second occasion, inside edging it short of Matt Prior behind the stumps.
As a response, the wicketkeeper immediately stood up to the stumps to frustrate Bravo - such a natural strokemaker.
However, Hoggard tested him outside his off stump with a succession of away-swingers, before dropping a shorter delivery which Bravo attempted to pull, the ball cannoning into his stumps. It was masterful bowling, and alert wicketkeeping.
Chanderpaul shuffled along merrily, bringing up his 43rd Test fifty - from 99 balls - and easing a couple of elegant fours through extra cover.
However, his new partner, Marlon Samuels, struggled. A late call-up to the squad following Ramnaresh Sarwan's injury, Sunday was his first innings of the tour. Under such heavy, overcast conditions, it was a baptism of swing.
Much as he has shown through his brief, stuttering Test career, his nervy innings was nevertheless dotted with occasional glimpses of true class, back cutting Monty Panesar down to third man Mark Waugh. And overall, he played Hoggard as well as Chanderpaul had - waiting for the swing; defending late. But Ryan Sidebottom found one to hold its line on Samuels leg-stump and, for once, Samuels lost his balance.
England had a half chance to run-out Chanderpaul - one of the world's most laconic between the wickets - but the throw was wide. West Indies' tail is not the stiffest, but England will be desperate to remove Chanderpaul after lunch.
Scorecard
West Indies 1st innings R B 4s 6s SR
D Ganga c Cook b Sidebottom 0 1 0 0 0.00
CH Gayle lbw b Hoggard 28 24 3 1 116.66
DS Smith b Sidebottom 4 26 0 0 15.38
RS Morton c Sidebottom b Harmison 6 24 1 0 25.00
S Chanderpaul not out 136 257 18 1 52.91
DJ Bravo b Hoggard 44 97 6 0 45.36
MN Samuels b Sidebottom 19 64 3 0 29.68
D Ramdin c C’wood b Sidebottom 13 22 2 0 59.09
DBL Powell c Prior b Harmison 1 3 0 0 33.33
FH Edwards b Sidebottom 5 13 1 0 38.46
CD Collymore lbw b Panesar 13 53 0 0 24.52
Extras: (b 4, lb 13, nb 1) 18
Total: (All out in 97.1 overs) 287 (2.95 runs per over)
England were on 38 for 1 at 10.20 pm.
Play began on time for the first occasion in the Test and, under grey skies, Matthew Hoggard gained prodigious swing to both Chanderpaul and Dwayne Bravo.
The pair dropped anchor, wary of Hoggard's immaculate line, though capitalising on Steve Harmison's occasional waywardness. Harmison is undoubtedly improving with each game but - so far, at least - he isn't gaining much bounce off this pitch.
Hoggard, on the other hand, would happily roll up the surface and carry it around with him.
Twice Bravo was beaten, fishing inauspiciously at Hoggard's natural away swinger and, on the second occasion, inside edging it short of Matt Prior behind the stumps.
As a response, the wicketkeeper immediately stood up to the stumps to frustrate Bravo - such a natural strokemaker.
However, Hoggard tested him outside his off stump with a succession of away-swingers, before dropping a shorter delivery which Bravo attempted to pull, the ball cannoning into his stumps. It was masterful bowling, and alert wicketkeeping.
Chanderpaul shuffled along merrily, bringing up his 43rd Test fifty - from 99 balls - and easing a couple of elegant fours through extra cover.
However, his new partner, Marlon Samuels, struggled. A late call-up to the squad following Ramnaresh Sarwan's injury, Sunday was his first innings of the tour. Under such heavy, overcast conditions, it was a baptism of swing.
Much as he has shown through his brief, stuttering Test career, his nervy innings was nevertheless dotted with occasional glimpses of true class, back cutting Monty Panesar down to third man Mark Waugh. And overall, he played Hoggard as well as Chanderpaul had - waiting for the swing; defending late. But Ryan Sidebottom found one to hold its line on Samuels leg-stump and, for once, Samuels lost his balance.
England had a half chance to run-out Chanderpaul - one of the world's most laconic between the wickets - but the throw was wide. West Indies' tail is not the stiffest, but England will be desperate to remove Chanderpaul after lunch.
Scorecard
West Indies 1st innings R B 4s 6s SR
D Ganga c Cook b Sidebottom 0 1 0 0 0.00
CH Gayle lbw b Hoggard 28 24 3 1 116.66
DS Smith b Sidebottom 4 26 0 0 15.38
RS Morton c Sidebottom b Harmison 6 24 1 0 25.00
S Chanderpaul not out 136 257 18 1 52.91
DJ Bravo b Hoggard 44 97 6 0 45.36
MN Samuels b Sidebottom 19 64 3 0 29.68
D Ramdin c C’wood b Sidebottom 13 22 2 0 59.09
DBL Powell c Prior b Harmison 1 3 0 0 33.33
FH Edwards b Sidebottom 5 13 1 0 38.46
CD Collymore lbw b Panesar 13 53 0 0 24.52
Extras: (b 4, lb 13, nb 1) 18
Total: (All out in 97.1 overs) 287 (2.95 runs per over)
England were on 38 for 1 at 10.20 pm.