2 June, 2008

Rain and half-centuries to Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul frustrated Australia's bid for victory in the second Test against West Indies in Antigua on Sunday.

Just 36 overs were possible on the third day after the opening two sessions were washed out.

At stumps, the Windies had moved to 4-255, a deficit of 224 runs, with Chanderpaul unbeaten on 55 and Dwayne Bravo on 29.

The Australians claimed just the one wicket on Sunday, that of captain Sarwan for 65.

Leg-spinner Stuart MacGill, who announced during the lunch break his international retirement effective at the end of this Test, claimed the wicket.

Deceived by a combination of flight and turn, Sarwan was caught one-handed by Michael Clarke at first slip.

Chanderpaul, who made a courageous century in the first Test, continued to deny Australia.

The left-hander batted patiently and will again be the key wicket in the Windies line-up.

He and Bravo, who swung MacGill for two sixes, contributed an invaluable 73-run stand.

The Windies must win the second Test if they are to have any hope of regaining the Frank Worrell Trophy.

West Indies v, Australia, 2nd Test, Day 3, Stumps

Australia 1st innings 479
West Indies 1st innings
Smith c Symonds b Johnson 16
Marshall lbw b Clarke 53
Sarwan c Clarke b MacGill 65
Morton c Katich b Clarke 2
Chanderpaul not out 55
Bravo not out 29
Extras (b 9, lb 13, w 2, nb 11) 35
Total 255 (4 wickets; 71 overs)
To bat: Ramdin, Sammy, Powell, Edwards, Taylor
FoW: 1-55 (Smith, 9.2 ov), 2-103 (Marshall, 26.1 ov), 3-105 (Morton, 26.6 ov), 4-182 (Sarwan, 53.6 ov)

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