21 Feb 2009

Windies escape as England rue late declaration

9:00 am on 21 February 2009

The West Indies cricket team has held on for a dramatic draw against England in the third test in Antigua, finishing the final day on 370 for nine to maintain their 1-0 lead in the five-Test series.

The last wicket pair of Daren Powell and Fidel Edwards held on in dim conditions before the umpires offered the Windies bad light with four scheduled overs left to play.

Ramnaresh Sarwan led the home side's resistance putting together a partnership of 148 runs with Shivnarine Chanderpaul before seamer Stuart Broad broke through for the tourists.

Broad dismissed Sarwan for 106 and Chanderpaul for 55 allowing England to get into the West Indies lower order but the last pair showed dogged determination to survive the English attack and secure the draw.

England captain Andrew Strauss was left ruing delaying his declaration.