Reports
England get into swing of things
2007-06-17 15:09:00

England's swing bowlers claimed two crucial breakthroughs as West Indies continued to battle towards a competitive total in the final Test.

Resuming the third day of the rain-hit Test at Chester-le-Street on 132 for four, England needed Matthew Hoggard and Ryan Sidebottom to make key breakthroughs in the morning session as West Indies reached 211 for six at lunch.

Once again Shivnarine Chanderpaul was the mainstay of their innings and, having batted for 15 hours in the series prior to Sunday, finished unbeaten on 92 at the interval after over four hours at the crease.

Chanderpaul had hoped to continue his productive partnership with Dwayne Bravo when play resumed, but the stand was broken just five overs into the day with Hoggard making a key breakthrough.

Bravo had added just one run to his overnight 43 when he attempted to pull a full-length Hoggard delivery which took out his leg-stump off an inside edge after adding a crucial 86 runs with Chanderpaul.

But Chanderpaul found another willing ally in Marlon Samuels, brought into the side to replace injured all-rounder Darren Sammy, who resisted England for a further 17 overs.

Resisting his natural instinct to play shots, Samuels battled for 73 minutes for his 19 runs although he did almost make the fatal error of running out Chanderpaul on 86, who managed to recover his ground at the non-striker's end before Kevin Pietersen's throw from point.

Samuel's resistance was finally broken in the next over after the run-out mix-up when he toppled over in his crease and was bowled around his legs by left-arm seamer Sidebottom.

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Guyana National Stadium

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1979 - Viv Richard's hundred in the final

Viv Richards was the most feared batsman of his generation and during the 1979 World Cup Final his unbeaten innings of 138 was instrumental in the West Indies defending their title.


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