West Indies take lead as draw looms by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Ground:	Warner Park, Basseterre
Scorecard:	West Indies v South Africa
Player:	S Chanderpaul, DJ Bravo
Event:	South Africa in West Indies 2010

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DateLine: 22nd June 2010

 

The hosts led by a dour century from Chanderpaul and lifeless fifty from Bravo managed to take a slender lead of three runs against South Africa. With the pitch looking like a road the Test is consigned to a draw unless something dramatic of sorts happens on the final day. The culprits for such an uneventful day were Chanderpaul, Bravo and Harris as it was negative cricket all round.

 

The fourth day's play was the worst advertisement for the already struggling Test cricket.

 

The day began with Windies placed at 424 for 4 with the pair Chanderpaul and Bravo at the crease. There were hopes around the ground that the pair would press the accelerator but instead the innings came to a screeching halt as the second Test slowly died. Chanderpaul and Bravo went into a shell as they refused to score a run though the opportunity presented itself to them. For the pair survival was the first option ad though it seemed that the stage was set for some aggressive batting and putting South Africa under pressure. During the snail like course of the innings it seemed that Chanderpaul had outgrown his team and has become a law unto himself. The state of the match does not find to appeal him and with his obsession of playing his favourite shot - not offering a shot at all - is looking to consume the already bruised and battered Test match. Dwayne Bravo who is supposed to be a whiff of fresh air for the Windies cricket seemed to have stagnated well beyond redemption and if he does not do anything to stem this regression it is evident that he will be consigned to the ever-growing tragic cricket list of 'what-if's'.

 

After some atrocious defensive batting from Chanderpaul left-arm spinner Paul Harris succeeded in breaking the dogged resistance of Chanderpaul for 166.

 

The 35-year-old left-hander struck 10 fours and a six in 487 minutes before he chipped a return catch to Harris off the leading edge. Chanderpaul and Dwayne Bravo added an even 100 for the fifth wicket from 330 balls. Bravo collected his half century, off 176 deliveries, but lost wicketkeeper Ramdin for one soon after. Ramdin slapped a long hop from left-arm seamer Lonwabo Tsotsobe straight to backward point. Bravo also fell to Harris, edging a rare attacking stroke that was held by wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.

 

The West Indies slipped to 486-8 when Jacques Kallis claimed Shane Shillingford, on seven, to an edge to second slip. The West Indies was lucky to avoid further damage when A.B. de Villiers dropped Sulieman Benn's edge off Kallis. The pair after initial circumspection went after the bowling to give Windies a slender three run lead.

 

When South Africa's turn came to bat they contributed to the dying contest with their version of dead batting.