Chanderpaul Denies India With Vital Century

Chanderpaul Denies India With Vital Century

Shivnarine Chanderpaul's 23rd Test century put the West Indies in a position to save the match in Dominica

©REUTERS / Action Images

West Indies 204 & 322 (Chanderpaul 116no) drew with
India 347 & 94-3 (Vijay 45, Rampaul 2-31)
Third Test, Dominica
Scorecard

West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul scored a resolute unbeaten century to eventually deny India victory in the drawn third and final Test in Dominica.

Chanderpaul remained unbeaten on 116 as the West Indies were bowled out for 322 in their second innings and India, set 180 to win, closed on 94 for three.

Chanderpaul always had his work cut out to even reach a century, let alone help his side get something out of the game but he excelled, mainly in partnership with Fidel Edwards (30 in 106 balls), with whom he put on 56 for the ninth wicket.

The West Indies had lost Darren Sammy (17) and Ravi Rampaul (1) in quick succession in the morning as they looked to be heading for defeat.

Sammy was caught by Abhinav Mukund off Harbhajan Singh before Rampaul was run out by a direct hit by Ishant Sharma after Chanderpaul had called him through for a short single.

He and Edwards then resisted everything India had for more than 35 overs, during which time Chanderpaul reached his 23rd Test century and sixth against India and Edwards passed his previous career-best score of 21.

Their partnership was finally broken when Edwards was caught by Praveen Kumar off Suresh Raina, who struck again quickly to remove Devendra Bishoo, caught by Rahul Dravid at slip for one to close out the innings.

Harbhajan returned figures of four for 75 and Raina two for 32 as the effectiveness of the quck bowlers lessened as the game wore on.

That did not stop Edwards removing Mukund with the first ball of India's second innings, trapped in front and after Rampaul struck twice to dismiss Murali Vijay for 45 and Raina for eight, India quickly called off the run chase and the two sides shook hands.

Rahul Dravid was unbeaten on 34 with VVS Laxman not out on three.

The final result marked an impressive fightback from the West Indies, who were bowled out for 204, then allowed India to score 347 with four men scoring half-centuries.

They were 40 for three in their second innings before Kirk Edwards marked his debut with an innings of 110 that hauled them back from the brink.

India, however, take the series 1-0, after they won the first Test in Jamaica by 63 runs and the second Test in Barbados was also drawn.

© Cricket World 2011