Gayle and Sarwan put Windies in control
Chris Gayle hit three huge sixes
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Thursday, 05, Feb 2009 10:38
Unbeaten half centuries from Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan led the West Indies to 160-1 against England at Sabina Park today.
The experienced duo put on 142 together, with Sarwan unbeaten on 74 and Gayle on 71, to put their team on top after England were bowled out for 318.
The day however was overshadowed by a moment of controversy surrounding the new referral system. Sarwan was given out lbw early on in his innings off the bowling of Steve Harmison, but the batsman decided he wanted the umpire to refer the decision to the third umpire.
Replays showed that there was a possibility that the ball would have gone over the stumps, but there was no irrefutable evidence – which the International Cricket Council (ICC)have said can be the only reason to change a decision – to suggest the ball would have gone over the stumps.
The third umpire Daryl Harper took almost three minutes to relay his findings to on-field umpire Tony Hill. And after the two umpires had consulted, Hill decided to change his decision and gave Sarwan not out. Unbelievably the reversal of the decision turned out to be incorrect as hawkeye showed the ball would have in-fact hit the stumps.
To make matters worse for England, Broad had an lbw shout against Sarwan turned down by the umpire, which Andrew Strauss decided not to refer to the third umpire and replays went on to show that the ball would have hit the stumps and that Sarwan would probably have been given out lbw.
England however did get some success with the referral system as Andrew Flintoff picked up the wicket of Devon Smith for six after the decision was originally given not out and then changed thanks to a referral.
But the day belonged to the West Indies as they took the England bowlers to the cleaners. Gayle hit three huge sixes, including one off Flintoff which was the third ball he had faced. Sarwan also took advantage of his reprieve and hit eight boundaries in his innings.
Worryingly for England, Monty Panesar once again looked out-of-sorts. The spinner, who had a torrid tour of India, struggled today and went for 44 runs from his 15 overs and failed to take a wicket.
Earlier in the day England managed to get over the 300 mark thanks to a fine innings from Matt Prior. After losing his overnight partner Flintoff for 43, Prior took on the scoring mantle to score 64 before he was caught and bowled by Suliemen Benn. Ryan Sidebottom also added 26 late crucial runs.