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MANCHESTER - Shivnarine Chanderpaul led West Indies' fight at Old Trafford on Monday (NZ time) as England struggled on the fourth day of the third test to claim the nine wickets needed to wrap up a series win.
The tourists, set a record target of 455 to win, reached 301 for five at the close after England's bowlers toiled on a sunny day. West Indies require a further 154 runs to win, while England need five wickets on the final day.
Chanderpaul was unbeaten on 81 after batting for more than four hours and facing 176 deliveries. The gritty left-hander has so far added 52 with Denesh Ramdin (26) for the sixth wicket. Spinner Monty Panesar has taken three for 87.
West Indies' batsmen showed a great deal more resilience than in the previous match when they capitulated in both innings to suffer their heaviest defeat in test history. Coach David Moore then demanded more fight and better shot selection.
England claimed the wickets of Chris Gayle, caught at second slip off Steve Harmison for 16, and Devon Smith, caught close in off Panesar for 42, before lunch. Runako Morton (54) was their solitary success of the afternoon session.
Morton and Chanderpaul batted watchfully, especially against improved fast bowler Harmison, whose line was more disciplined than in recent displays. Their stand was worth 73 in 151 balls until Morton played no stroke to Panesar and was lbw.
Dwayne Bravo was the fifth wicket after tea, caught off Panesar for 49, as West Indies continued to frustrate a home crowd hoping to see an early conclusion.
First, though, Bravo created some controversy when on 24 as his edge to Paul Collingwood at gully -- celebrated as a wicket by England -- was adjudged to have hit the ground after umpire Billy Bowden consulted colleague Aleem Dar at square leg.
England's fielders were visibly annoyed and captain Michael Vaughan appeared to question the umpire's decision.
Chanderpaul, while on 18, survived a dropped catch off Harmison as Panesar, often ridiculed by spectators for his clumsy fielding, should have grasped the chance diving on from mid-on.
Chanderpaul, renowned for his competitiveness at the crease, reached his 43rd test half-century with consecutive boundaries off Harmison, the second pulled to square leg.
His innings has been typically devoid of excitement but brimming with the kind of character West Indies missed when he was injured in the second test.
The highest total to win a test match in the fourth innings was West Indies' 418 against Australia in 2003.
SCOREBOARD
Day four
England
First innings 370
Second innings 313
West Indies
West Indies frist innings 229
Second Innings (overnight: 22-1)
C Gayle c Collingwood b Harmison 16
D Ganga lbw b Harmison 0
D Smith c Cook b Panesar 42
R Morton lbw b Panesar 54
S Chanderpaul not out 81
D Bravo c Cook b Panesar 49
D Ramdin not out 26
Extras (10b, 12lb, 8w, 3nb) 33
Total (for 5 wkts, 98 overs) 301
Fall: 4 (Ganga), 2-35 (Gayle), 3-88 (Smith), 4-161 (Morton), 5-249 (Bravo)
Bowling: Sidebottom 21-5-48-0 (1nb), Harmison 22-6-70-2 (2nb, 2w), Panesar 34-10-87-3, Plunkett 16-2-57-0 (6w), Pietersen 5-2-17-0.
- REUTERS
