4 June, 2008

Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramanaresh Sarwan were the heroes for the West Indies as the home side saved the second Test against Australia in Antigua.

Set 372 for victory after Australia declared overnight, the Windies made it to 5-266 when play was called off five overs early by both captains.

It was a dogged effort by the West Indies, who were forced to survive to new-ball blitzes against the Australian attack.

It would not have done so if not for a captain's century from Sarwan, who made 128, and yet another defiant contribution from the red-hot Chanderpaul.

Chanderpaul, who made an unbeaten 77 to go with an unconquered 107 in the first innings to earn man-of-the-match honours, has amassed 313 runs from the first two matches of the series.

Australia fancied its chances of taking an unassailable 2-0 lead to Barbados when it reduced the Windies to 2-19 in just the 12th over of the day.

A victory still looked on the cards in the final session once an outstanding 143-run stand between Sarwan and Chanderpaul was halted by the second new ball.

Of the five wickets to fall on the final day, four were attained while the ball was still relatively new.

And again, it was Brett Lee and Stuart Clark who were the most dangerous of the Australian bowlers although the retiring Stuart MacGill, who was chaired off the ground in his final Test, and Mitchell Johnson had their best day of the series.

Lee removed Devon Smith in the fifth over with a short ball which the Windies opener steered to Michael Hussey at gully.

Clark grabbed the wicket of Xavier Marshall, who was caught behind by Brad Haddin.

An Australia victory became the most likely result when Runako Morton was trapped plumb in front by Lee shortly before lunch.

But Chanderpaul and Sarwan had other ideas. The pair, who five years ago helped the Windies overhaul a record 418 for victory against Australia at the nearby Antigua Recreation Ground, were again rock solid.

Sarwan batted early in his innings like a man intent on pursuing another unlikely victory rather than just surviving.

He raced to 50 off only 68 balls but once Morton departed defence became the name of his game.

Almost stumped on 92 off MacGill's bowling when given the benefit of the doubt by inconclusive TV replays, Sarwan registered his 11th Test ton when he swept the veteran leg-spinner for a boundary.

Sarwan's dismissal, caught at gully by Hussey after fending a searing lifter from Johnson on the first delivery with the second new ball, set up a tense finish.

Dwayne Bravo wasted 13 deliveries before a leading edge off Lee saw him depart for just one.

Ramdin was lucky not to feather his second ball to a hungry cordon but was otherwise a dependable partner for Chanderpaul.