Chanderpaul (151*), Nash (114) lead Windies fight back

Jun 21, 2010 Sports

---

Home team dominate 3rd day on ‘grave-yard’ pitch

 

By Sean Devers

Desperate for at least a draw to keep the series alive going into the final Test in Barbados, West Indies began the 3rd day of the 2nd Digicel Test against South Africa at Warner Park in St Kitts yesterday needing to bat for as long as possible to save the match on a bowler’s nightmare of a pitch.

Wonderful centuries from the over-30 left-handed pair of Shiv Chanderpaul (151*) and Brendon Nash (114) led the West Indies fight back with a 4th wicket stand of 230 after Skipper Chris Gayle (50) and Narsingh Deonarine (65) had earlier scored fifties to help ensure West Indies dominated the 3rd day.

By the close, West Indies, replying to South Africa’s 543-6 declared, had already erased the 343 follow-on target as they progressed from 86-1 overnight to 424-4 with Chanderpaul, only behind Brian Lara for most Test runs by a West Indian, unbeaten on 151 from 264 balls with 10 fours and a six.  

The West Indies head into today’s penultimate day 119 runs behind the visitors’ total but with Chanderpaul, who has now hit 1,000 fours in Test cricket, well set, Dwayne Bravo on 21 and more rain forecast for today, South Africa could be asked to dig really deep on a ‘graveyard dead’ pitch for an unlikely victory and an unbeatable 2-nil lead in the series.

It was one of the better days for West Indies cricket in recent times but very few would have seen Chanderpaul or Nash post their hundreds.

Many TV Stations around the region were reportedly showing South American 5-time World Champions, Brazil’s 3-1 win yesterday in the Football’s World Cup in South Africa instead of the cricket.

Chanderpaul, one of only two South Americans (Deonarine is the other) presently playing Test cricket, could provide more South American sporting glory at the International level today as he aims for his 2nd Test double century after his first (203* in 2005 at Bourda) was also against the South Africans.         

Helped by a delay of over 30 minutes due to overnight and morning rain and a short interruption just before lunch, the hosts only lost of the wicket of Skipper Chris Gayle in the opening session although their batsmen were peppered with a barrage of bouncers from Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel on a flat track.

Gayle punched left-arm pacer Lowonbo Tsotsobe gloriously to the cover boundary to move to 48 and then got to his 33rd Test fifty with a casually ambled single which almost caused his demise via the run out route had there been a direct hit at the non-striker’s end.

The Jamaican, guilty of sloppy running between the wickets on a number of occasions, added just 8 to his overnight 42 before he dragged a ball from Morkel onto his stumps and the West Indies, in hazy sunshine, were 106-2 as the 2nd wicket stand of 93-run was finally broken.

Deonarine, who scored a fluent 82 against Australia, survived a testing period of short pitched bowling and was struck on his helmet by Morkel before reaching his 2nd Test fifty from 117 balls with 3 fours and a six.

The best player of spin bowling in the side, Deonarine survived a difficult stumping chance on 46 off left-arm spinner Paul Harris who again looked ordinary.

But apart from that chance, Deonarine batted very well and along with Chanderpaul, who fell to the ground after being hit on the grill of his helmet by Steyn, saw their team to lunch at 126-2.

Deonarine was on 50 and Chanderpaul, who looked uncertain at the crease, on 9 from 30 balls.

After the interval, Deonarine smashed Jacques Kallis for consecutive boundaries before he was dropped at point in the same over on 60, playing a vicious cut shot.

The left-hander was soon bowled by Styen as he was cramped for room and dragged the ball onto his stumps to leave the West Indies on 151-3. His 65 lasted 131 balls and included 5 fours and a six.

Nash, back in the number 5 position where he has enjoyed the most success in his 14-match Test career, was greeted with a nasty short ball from Steyn. The brute of a ball which Nash just managed to evade, emphasised the difference between Steyn and Morkel and the West Indies pacers who made the pitch appear even more docile than it is.

With similar dogged temperaments, Chanderpaul and Nash counter-attacked. Chanderpaul swept Harris for four before smashing Morkel to the boundary while Nash edged an aggressive cut at Morkel past gully for four and smashed Tsotsobe to the cover boundary.

Chanderpaul swept Harris for his 6th four to post his 53rd test fifty while the 50 partnership was achieved from 93 balls as Nash in particular made a consorted effort to bat in a positive manner on the slow outfield.

The left-handed pair carried West Indies to 236-3 as South Africa could only manage a wicket in each of the first two sessions. At the break Chanderpaul was 57 and Nash on 44 and the home team, beaten inside 4 days in the first Test in Trinidad, showing refreshing fight.

The final session belonged to the host with the 35-year-old Chanderpaul reaching his 22nd hundred and fifth against South Africa with a double off Styen. His hundred took 188 balls and was decorated with 8 fours. The left-hander from Unity celebrated by lofting Harris for six.

The Australian-born Nash, watched by his family, pulled Styen for his 11th boundary to reach his 2nd Test ton from 129 balls and followed it up with a pugnacious hook for another four and the few fans present were on their feet.

Nash was run out at 371-4 and Bravo joined Chanderpaul to see their team to the close without further loss on what was a frustrating day for the visitors who blew the home team away from 102 in the opening Test in Trinidad.

Despite the nature of the pitch, yesterday’s batting performance emphasised that the West Indies’ main problem is not a lack of talent but a lack of consistency. Another solid two sessions of batting today could see them head to Barbados with the chance of leveling the series.    

---

---