Poor batting from Windies
International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricketer of the Year Shivnarine Chanderpaul, for the umpteenth time, came to the assistance of the West Indies with a typical gritty innings as the team capitulated to the Essex bowling attack at Chelmsford.
Chanderpaul, who only arrived in England on Thursday, top-scored with an unbeaten 66 as the tourists were bowled out for a paltry 146 in just 44.1 overs, replying to Essex’s modest first innings score of 263.
The display from the West Indian batsmen was truly pathetic and they just avoided the ignominy of following on in a three-day game against an ordinary English county side. The next highest score in the innings turned out to be the extras which totalled 15 as Devon Smith, Brendon Nash and Dave Bernard Junior were the only batsmen to reach double figures.
The day started disastrously for the West Indies as opening batsman Dale Richards was dismissed without a run being added to the overnight score of 24 for 1 when he was caught behind by wicketkeeper James Foster off the bowling of Maurice Chambers. Narsingh Deonarine, who scored over 1000 runs in the recently concluded West Indies domestic season, lasted only two deliveries being bowled for a duck by Chambers.
Lendl Simmons who scored a century in the opening tour match against Leicestershire was the next to go as he was also caught behind off the bowling of Jahid Ahmed for four swinging at a wide delivery. West Indies were quickly reduced to 29 for 4.
Middle order batsmen Nash joined Chanderpaul and they set about to repair the damage. Upon reaching 14, Nash was next to go, becoming Chambers’ third victim. He, too, was bowled by the Jamaican-born fast bowler.
Captain for the match Darren Sammy lasted just three deliveries . He was the first of three victims Mervyn Westfield snared; he was trapped lbw.
West Indies were now 80 for 7 and were facing the possibility of being bowled out under 100 and having to follow on. Chanderpaul found an ally in Baker as they took the score to 117 before Baker on 9 was trapped lbw by Chambers.
In the mean time, Chanderpaul kept soldiering on and Andrew Richardson lasted long enough to see Chanderpaul reach his 50 with 8 fours and one six off 81 deliveries. He helped the side go past the follow on score before he became the ninth wicket to fall when he was caught by Middlebrook of Westfield.
Nelon Pascal lasted nine deliveries. He was dismissed for a duck caught off the bowling of Westfield by Chambers. Chanderpaul was left high and dry on 66 as the West Indies conceded a first innings lead of 117 runs. Chambers had four wickets, Westfield three, Ahmed two and Middlebrook one as they blew away the West Indies batting line up.
Essex in their second innings were off to another disastrous start when opening batsman Jason Gallian was once again dismissed for a duck off the first delivery falling lbw to Lionel Baker. Varun Chopra got to 14 before he was caught behind by stand in wicketkeeper Simmons off Pascal as Essex reached 38 for 2. Jaik Mickelburg then joined England Test opener Alistair Cook, who has recovered from a finger injury, and they progressed to 98 before Mickleburg became Baker’s second victim falling lbw for 23.
Captain and wicketkeeper Foster joined Cook and they shared an unbroken partnership of 77. Cook ended the day on 75 not out and Foster on 48. The overall lead is 292 runs and Essex will be looking for an early declaration on the third day to force an outright victory.
West Indies will have to produce something really special with the bat to avoid defeat in this match as they prepare for the opening Test which starts next week..