Gallant England denied by Windies' last pair
Andrew Strauss unable to claim first win as permanent captain
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England will head into the final day of the third Test in Antigua needing seven wickets to complete victory over the West Indies. |  |
Thursday, 19, Feb 2009 10:37
England have been denied victory against the West Indies as last pair Daren Powell and Fidel Edwards survived a late barrage to earn the Windies a draw.
Andrew Strauss' men looked on course to win the third Test at the Antigua Recreation Ground as they reduced the West Indies to 353/9, but the dogged pair of Powell and Edwards managed to block out 81 deliveries and secured a draw for their team as they went off for bad light with four overs left.
The result was harsh on an England side who had fought hard all day in search of the win. No England player was more outstanding than Andrew Flintoff, with the big all-rounder in obvious pain from a hip injury, but still bravely bowling 14 overs as he tried to win the game for England.
But despite throwing everything at Powell and Edwards and having a number of close shouts turned down by the umpires, England were unable to get the final breakthrough which would have seen them win the Test match and level the series.
Earlier in the day, the Windies had a chance of claiming a surprise win as Ramnaresh Sarwan hit a superb century and Shivnarine Chanderpual (55) shared in a 148 run partnership.
The pair were both removed by the ever-improving Stuart Broad, who seemed to thrive on the responsibility thrown on him in the absence of Flintoff.
The youngster first bowled Sarwan with an absolute jaffer which knocked-back Sarwan's off and middle stumps.
He then removed Chanderpaul with a delivery which climbed on the West Indian batsman and he edged behind to Matt Prior. England then looked to be in complete control as Graeme Swann got Brendan Nash out lbw.
Dinesh Ramdin (21) and Jerome Taylor (11) hung around for a while, but they were both sent packing by James Anderson. And when Suliemen Benn was another lbw victim to Swann, it only seemed a matter of time before England wrapped up the win.
But with the light fading fast, England were forced into bowling Kevin Pietersen as Swann continued at the other end. Swann saw a number of close lbw shouts turned down and the West Indies held on for the draw and keep their 1-0 lead in the series.