Guyanese and West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul yesterday shone as Durham overhauled Somerset’s meagre first innings total.
In a four-day match playing in England’s County Championship Division One, the World Number one ranked test batsman made a scintillating 93 before being bowled by former South African left-arm pacer Charl Willoughby.
Chanderpaul arrived at the crease after Durham overnight batsman William Smith departed for 24 with the score on 59 leaving Chanderpaul to partner DeVenuto. Chanderpaul still beaming from the accolades reaped upon him yesterday got about his business as usual with sound defence and putting away any bad ball.
Somerset in their first innings made 224 all out but Durham was indebted to recalled England paceman Steve Harmison who finished with 5 for 84 off 17.5 overs. When Durham began their reply they quickly lost Mark Stoneman to Willoughby for one with the score on three.
DeVenuto and Smith went about rebuilding the innings posting 56 runs for the second wicket.
The partnership that stole the match for Durham though was between Chanderpaul and De Venuto who added a well-crafted 174 for the third wicket.
Chanderpaul at certain times the aggressor was also keen to play the anchor role as DeVenuto went about his business. When Chanderpaul reached his half century DeVenuto was in his 80s but Chanderpaul then upped the tempo blasting two consecutive sixes off Ian Blackwell’s first two balls after a rain interrupted tea interval. In all Chanderpaul spent 213 minutes at the crease facing 176 balls, striking nine boundaries and two sixes.
Chanderpaul though was the one to take Durham into the lead, hitting Alfonso Thomas for two consecutive boundaries to move into the nineties. He then lost his concentration and cut a ball from Willboughby onto his stumps.
Willboughby was the most successful Somerset bowler picking up 2/53 off 28 overs with 12 maidens.
Durham is well placed, however, on 265/3 with DeVenuto unbeaten on 131 with Captain Dale Benkenstein on 14 when stumps were drawn. Tomorrow is the last day of the match as the first day (September 9) was completely washed out.
