Series squared with three matches to go

An unbeaten century from Shivnarine Chanderpaul and yet another half century from the consistent Ramnaresh Sarwan helped the West Indies square the five-match Digicel limited overs series 1-1 with a 21-run win in the second ODI at the National Stadium at Providence yesterday.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul receives the man of the match cheque from Digicel’s Donovan Whyte. (Orlando Charles photo)
Shivnarine Chanderpaul receives the man of the match cheque from Digicel’s Donovan Whyte. (Orlando Charles photo)

Man of the match Chanderpaul made his first ODI century on home soil (112 not out; 10×4) and the first ever by a West Indies batsman at the venue while Sarwan continued his fine form with the bat hitting 74, as the West Indies scored 264-8 from their 50 overs.

England were dismissed for 243 in reply.

The West Indies won the toss and batted in hazy conditions and quickly lost the wicket of Lendl Simmons who was caught at the wicket off the bowling of James Anderson for a duck.

Skipper Chris Gayle struck four fours in 20 before he was bowled by Anderson at 24-2.

Thereafter `homeys’ Chanderpaul and Sarwan treated the over 16,000 spectators to a batting display of the highest pedigree as they added 133 runs for the third wicket from 29.3 overs.

VINTAGE SARWAN! Ramnaresh Sarwan played the supporting role to Shiv Chanderpaul with a superb innings of 74 yesterday. (Aubrey Crawford photo)
VINTAGE SARWAN! Ramnaresh Sarwan played the supporting role to Shiv Chanderpaul with a superb innings of 74 yesterday. (Aubrey Crawford photo)

Sarwan reached his 32nd limited overs international half century from 58 deliveries and celebrated by hitting Gareth Batty over long off and through point for boundaries.

The two Guyanese raised the 100-run partnership from 135 balls with Sarwan on 62 and Chanderpaul on 40 and the West Indies 124-2 in the 28th over.

The pair was separated when Sarwan attempting to up the tempo during the powerplay was caught by Collingwood at mid off.

Luck was with Chanderpaul, though as he was caught by Steve Harmison only for the square leg umpire Aleem Dar to instruct the standing umpire Clyde Duncan that the delivery was not a legal one.

The `Tiger’ roared to his 10th ODI century when he turned Collingwood to a vacant midwicket area and set off for the single.

He faced 126 deliveries and struck nine fours.

Bravo, 19, Ramdin, 01, Nikita Miller, 00 and Sammy, 11 all perished at the bottom of the innings.

Anderson, 3-37, Collingwood 3-49 and Mascarenhas 2-53 were the main wicket-takers.

Chanderpaul, who suffered a hamstring injury after the second rain interruption, was forced to complete his innings with Bravo as his runner. He was not out on 112 and Fidel Edwards was on three at the end.

Fidel Edwards sends Kevin Petersen’s leg stump cart wheeling. (Aubrey Crawford photo)
Fidel Edwards sends Kevin Petersen’s leg stump cart wheeling. (Aubrey Crawford photo)

England, in reply, never got on top of the bowling and kept losing wickets at regular intervals as the West Indies made amends somewhat for their miscalculation of the Duckworth/Lewistarget which gifted England the first one-dayer on Friday at the same venue.

Andrew Strauss scored his third ODI ton and while he was there England always had a chance but he was bowled by Keiron Pollard around his legs for 105 from 129 balls.

Bold hitting from James Anderson saw England needing 24 runs from the final two overs but Anderson was bowled by Pollard for eight. ended with 2-40 and Pollard 2-46.