Chanderpaul stands tall as Australia dominate final Test

BRIDGETOWN, June 14: Shivnarine Chanderpaul carried his bat for the third consecutive innings but once again lacked support from his team-mates as West Indies were dismissed for 216 on the second day of the third Test on Friday.

Although Chanderpaul compiled 79 not out Australia, who are 1-0 up in the three-match series, still took a first innings lead of 35 runs with left-arm pace bowler Mitchell Johnson capturing a career-best four for 41.

Australian openers Simon Katich and Phil Jaques safely negotiated 14 overs in the final session, adding 35 without loss.

Left-hander Chanderpaul has scored two centuries against the Australians and only once in five innings has he failed to make at least a half century. He has scored 392 runs so far in the series for an average of 196.

The Australians added just 25 runs to their overnight 226 for seven but Ricky Ponting’s side soon bounced back with the ball.

Brett Lee removed both openers, captain Chris Gayle (14) along with opener Sewnarine Chattergoon (6) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (20) was a victim of Stuart Clark before lunch, caught brilliantly by Mike Hussey at backward point.

After the interval, Xavier Marshall continued to a lively 39 before he went caught by debutant Beau Casson off Andrew Symonds, a soft dismissal for a batsman who had looked settled.

Chanderpaul and Bravo consolidated, putting on 60 for the fifth wicket before Bravo once again failed to build on a solid start.

The Trinidad all-rounder had made 29 before he was caught behind, flicking a leg-side delivery from Johnson.

Then came the by now traditional lower order collapse.

Denesh Ramdin, Sulieman Benn, Jerome Taylor, Daren Powell, and

Fidel Edwards all went without reaching double figures as the last five wickets fell for just 28 runs.

Johnson had taken just five wickets in the previous two Tests but after another poor start on Friday he suddenly clicked and sliced through the bottom half of the West Indian batting line-up.

Johnson’s first over went for 12 and his first spell of four overs before lunch ended with figures of 0-31. He put that down to tension.

“With how my tour has been and with not getting too many wickets, I sort of felt that I really needed to get some in the morning and probably just forced it a little bit too much,” he said.

“I had a few of the boys just calm me down a little bit. After I got [Dwayne] Bravo out I just felt really relaxed, it put a big smile on my face, I guess that is how I perform at my best,” he said.

Having picked up four wickets for 10 runs in his later spell, Johnson conceded that he was more at ease with the older ball.

“At the moment, I seem to find that I am a lot more comfortable when the ball is a little older. With the new ball I try and swing the ball and that is not how I play my game, I sort of hit the deck hard and get it through.

“I think I am just going to keep working on hitting the deck hard and working the ball through. Hopefully I will get another chance with the new ball again – we have another innings so we will see what happens,” he said.

Scoreboard

AUSTRALIA (1st Innings, overnight 226-7):

P.A. Jaques c Ramdin b Taylor 31

S.M. Katich c Gayle b Edwards 36

R.T. Ponting lbw b Taylor 18

M.E.K. Hussey c Powell b Bravo 12

M.J. Clarke c Ramdin b Bravo 0

A. Symonds c Chattergoon b Bravo 52

B.J. Haddin lbw b Benn 32

B. Casson lbw b Edwards 10

B. Lee not out 23

M.G. Johnson c Benn b Taylor 0