West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul glances to leg during his knock of 55 not out in the first innings against Australia, on the rain-affected third day of the second Test match at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua yesterday. - Dellmar photo
ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC):
On a day that the authorities responsible for the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium were again embarrassed by the ground's poor drainage system, the West Indies trudged along to a position of relative safety on the third day of the second Digicel Test against Australia yesterday.
In the two-and-three-quarter-hours' play possible, the Windies moved to 255 for four and go into the fourth day with Shivnarine Chanderpaul (55) and Dwayne Bravo (29) well entrenched in a 73-run, fifth-wicket partnership.
West Indies need just another 25 runs to avoid the follow-on and effectively consign this match to the inevitability of a drab draw.
It is a task made considerably easier by the loss of most of the third day's play, more a result of substandard infrastructure than the heavy early-morning rain that greeted the first official day of the hurricane season in the Caribbean.
Those showers dissipated and the sun emerged just half-an-hour after the scheduled 10 a.m. start.
Slow resumption
However, there was never a prospect of a speedy resumption as the failure of the ground to absorb the surface water left everyone - especially the Australians, eager to get back on the field - frustrated as the protracted mopping up and drying process dragged into the afternoon, ironically in blistering sunshine.
The same problem arose twice during the Super Eights phase of the World Cup, including the eagerly anticipated showdown between the West Indies and Australia, yet it is understood that the major work needed to remedy the situation will only begin in three weeks' time, following two more major events, a music concert and a World Cup football qualifier between Antigua/Barbuda and Cuba.
MaCGILL RETIRING
In the midst of the seemingly interminable wait for play to get under way, the announcement was made that Stuart MacGill was retiring from international cricket immediately after this match.
The 37-year-old leg-spinner, playing in his 44th Test, has clearly been struggling to recapture his best form and rhythm following wrist surgery last November.
He did claim the scalp of Ramnaresh Sarwan for his 208th Test wicket in his second over of the evening, the stand-in West Indies captain drawn into a forward prod and edging to slip where second-day hero Michael Clarke held an excellent low catch to send the elegant right-hander back to the pavilion for 65.
However, MacGill continued to struggle with his control, conceding 82 runs off 16 overs while also delivering eight no-balls and one wide.
Following a double failure in the first Test, Sarwan's innings, which spanned 198 minutes, occupied 146 deliveries and was embellished by four fours and a six, was a controlled, serene effort in partnership with Chanderpaul. The pair added 77 runs for the fourth wicket to take their side closer to safety.
Chanderpaul was as reliable as ever, progressing with a minimum of fuss to yet another Test half-century in 166 minutes, off 111 balls with six fours. There may not be a lot left in the match as far as producing an outright result, but it can be expected that the 33-year-old Chanderpaul will be as resolute as ever in pursuit of a second hundred in as many Tests against the top team in the world.
As is his wont, Bravo's attacking nature offered the Australians a glimmer of hope of separating the pair before stumps. Yet it was not to be and in hoisting two sixes off MacGill full-tosses, the attacking all-rounder was probably confirming in the leg-spinner's mind that he was making the right decision to bow out now.
AUSTRALIA 1st innings 479-7 declared (S Katich 113; J Taylor 3-95)
WEST INDIES 1st innings (overnight 125 for 3)
| D Smith c Symonds b Johnson | 16 |
| X Marshall lbw b Clarke | 53 |
| R Sarwan c Clarke b MacGill | 65 |
| R Morton c Katich b Clarke | 2 |
| S Chanderpaul not out | 55 |
| D Bravo not out | 29 |
| Extras: (b9, lb13, w2, nb11) | 35 |
| TOTAL: (4 wkts-71 overs) | 255 |
|
To bat: +D Ramdin, D Sammy, D Powell, F Edwards, J Taylor.
Fall of wickets: 1-55 (Smith), 2-103 (Marshall), 3-105 (Morton), 4-182 (Sarwan)
Bowling: Lee 15-5-48-0 (3nb, 1w); Johnson 16-3-54-1; Clark 14-0-39-0; MacGill 16-1-82-1 (8nb, 1w); Clarke 8-4-8-2; Symonds 2-1-2-0.
Umpires Mark Benson, Russell Tiffin; TV umpire - Norman Malcolm.
