Upbeat West Indies continue to fight
Tuesday, 17 June 2008
Xavier Marshall's exciting 85 gave West Indies reason to cheer but Australia shook off some uncharacteristic fielding fumbles to take themselves within seven wickets of victory and a 2-0 series win in Barbados. At stumps on the fourth day West Indies had not given up hope of a record chase, but their target of 475 was still a long way off, and they were 235 for 3 with Shivnarine Chanderpaul on 27 and Dwayne Bravo on 30, according to website cricinfo.
With Sewnarine Chattergoon almost certain not to bat after arriving at the ground on crutches following his third-day ankle injury, West Indies were effectively four down. They were fortunate not be in a bigger hole after a fiery late spell from Brett Lee and they need something magic from Chanderpaul and his team-mates as they search for another 240 runs to level the series.
When Beau Casson celebrated his first Test wicket by removing Marshall, who had batted well for a first-class career-best, Australia were feeling the relief after they had let West Indies build up to a vaguely threatening 181 for 2. Casson's extra bounce and turn enticed a thin edge on to Marshall's hip and it flew to the right of the diving short leg Phil Jaques, who snared the tough low chance in his non-preferred right hand.
Gayle could also have been run out on 20 had Lee hit the stumps from mid-on with Gayle halfway down the pitch, but more costly were the two lives offered to Marshall. Simon Katich's horror run in the cordon continued - he put down two at first slip in the first innings - when, despite being demoted to third slip, he grassed a straightforward edge off Marshall on 1 to frustrate the bowler Lee. Brad Haddin then gave Stuart Clark a headache when Marshall, on 22, edged a superb legcutter that Haddin dropped moving to his right.
With Sewnarine Chattergoon almost certain not to bat after arriving at the ground on crutches following his third-day ankle injury, West Indies were effectively four down. They were fortunate not be in a bigger hole after a fiery late spell from Brett Lee and they need something magic from Chanderpaul and his team-mates as they search for another 240 runs to level the series.
When Beau Casson celebrated his first Test wicket by removing Marshall, who had batted well for a first-class career-best, Australia were feeling the relief after they had let West Indies build up to a vaguely threatening 181 for 2. Casson's extra bounce and turn enticed a thin edge on to Marshall's hip and it flew to the right of the diving short leg Phil Jaques, who snared the tough low chance in his non-preferred right hand.
Gayle could also have been run out on 20 had Lee hit the stumps from mid-on with Gayle halfway down the pitch, but more costly were the two lives offered to Marshall. Simon Katich's horror run in the cordon continued - he put down two at first slip in the first innings - when, despite being demoted to third slip, he grassed a straightforward edge off Marshall on 1 to frustrate the bowler Lee. Brad Haddin then gave Stuart Clark a headache when Marshall, on 22, edged a superb legcutter that Haddin dropped moving to his right.