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By Simon Evans
NORTH SOUND, Antigua, June 3 - West Indies captain
Ramnaresh Sarwan scored a patient and determined 128 on Tuesday
to take his side to a draw on the final day of the second test
against Australia.
Australia, 1-0 up in the three-match series, retained the
Frank Worrell Trophy.
After Ricky Ponting declared before the start of play,
setting West Indies an unlikely victory target of 372, the hosts
were struggling at 95 for three at lunch but recovered thanks to
a gritty partnership from Sarwan and fellow Guyanese batsman
Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
The pair put on 143 for the fourth wicket before Sarwan was
caught off Mitchell Johnson with the first delivery of the new
ball.
When Dwayne Bravo (1) quickly followed, Australia felt they
had a chance of victory but Denesh Ramdin joined Chanderpaul to
see the innings through until five overs from the scheduled
close when Ponting signalled he would settle for the draw.
Chanderpaul, who scored 107 not out in the first innings,
was unbeaten on 77.
Australia had been on top throughout the test and will now
look back with disappointment on the four hours lost after rain
on the third day. West Indies will be encouraged by their
rearguard action ahead of the final test in Barbados on June 12.
With survival their only realistic goal, West Indies
struggled to 95 for three at lunch .
Brett Lee, who took five wickets for five runs in a superb
spell of swing bowling on Monday, got the early breakthrough
with just four runs on the board as Devon Smith (0) chopped a
rising delivery to Mike Hussey at gulley.
Then the other West Indies opener, Xavier Marshall, was
caught behind off Stuart Clark for five as the hosts tumbled to
19 for two.
Sarwan and Runako Morton steadied the innings before Lee
returned for a second spell and trapped Morton lbw for 14.
Chanderpaul joined Sarwan before lunch and the pair batted
with few scares until tea although Sarwan survived an appeal to
the third umpire for a stumping off MacGill
The new ball was Australia's last throw of the dice and it
brought an instant result with Johnson getting the ball to rise
off a good length. Sarwan edged to Mike Hussey at gulley.
Bravo was then caught by substitute Brad Hodge at point, as
he got a leading edge trying to turn Lee to the onside, and
suddenly there were nerves among another paltry home crowd.
But wicketkeeper Ramdin (21 not out), who has looked shaky
in this series, kept his nerve and West Indies held out for the
draw.
(Editing by John Mehaffey)