Antigua Test ended at draw

ANTIGUA: An impressive batting display from the tail-enders helped West Indies claim a draw to deny England a series-levelling victory in Antigua.

The home side looked set for defeat at 322-8, but resilient batting from Daren Powell, assisted by Sulieman Benn and Fidel Edwards, rescued the match.

Stuart Broad (3-51) took the vital wickets of Ramnaresh Sarwan (106) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (55).

The pair put on 148 runs to give their side the chance to earn a famous draw.

With the light rapidly diminishing as evening set in over the Antigua Recreational Ground, Powell and Edwards gratefully accepted the umpires’ offer to go off with just four overs remaining in the match.

With men surrounding the bat in the final few overs, England’s bowlers could not penetrate the obdurate resistance of the tail-enders, who ensured the West Indies maintain a 1-0 series lead going into the fourth Test in Barbados, which begins next Thursday.

England had looked set for victory when Denesh Ramdin played on to his stumps off James Anderson in the 111th over with the score at 322-8.

However, Powell, who finished 22 not out from 55 time-sapping deliveries, combined brilliantly with Benn and Edwards as England pressed for the final two wickets.

England had spent long periods of the final day searching for a breakthrough attempting to dislodge Sarwan and Chanderpaul, who had seen the West Indies to 143-3 on day four chasing an improbable 503 for victory.

source : jang.com.pk