Day 4: WI vs Australia

Centuries from Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul have pushed the fourth and final Test between the West Indies and Australia to a thrilling conclusion in Antigua.

The West Indies resumed Day 4 at 0/47, with openers Devon Smith and Chris Gayle unbeaten at the crease.

Gayle failed to add any runs to his overnight total of 19, spooning a pull shot into the hands of Steve Waugh off Brett Lee.

Jason Gillespie then found the edge of Devon Smith's bat, falling into the safe hand of Adam Gilchrist after the opener made 23, leaving the hosts at 2/50.

Daren Ganga then became the first victim of Glenn McGrath in the innings, trapped LBW to an inswinger for just 8.

West Indian captain Brian Lara and his deputy Ramnaresh Sarwan then put together a 91 run stand, with Lara looking in particularly ominous form, overtaking Ricky Ponting as the highest scorer in the series.

However, Lara's sparkling resistance ended when he was clean bowled by a big Stuart MacGill leg-break after going for one too many huge strokes on 60.

Prolific half-century maker Shiv Chanderpaul then joined Sarwan at the crease, with the pair both doing something they had failed to do against Australia on many occasions - score a hundred.

Sarwan was the first of the pair to reach the milestone, making 105 before he caught and bowled pulling off Brett Lee.

Sarwan's hundred may be more famous for his altercation with Australian spearhead Glenn McGrath.

McGrath became involved in a passionate outburst against the young West Indian, with the Australian suggesting to umpire's that the batsman had passed a comment on his ill wife following a sledge.

From the following ball after the dismissal of Sarwan, Ridley Jacobs was adjudged caught behind by umpire David Shepard despite the ball clearly taking his arm.

The crowd then erupted into mayhem, with bottles being thrown on to the playing arena.

Omari Banks (28*) then batted out the remainder of the day with Chanderpaul, who was unbeaten on 103.

For Australia, Brett Lee was the best of the bowlers, taking 3/52.

Scores

Australia 240 (J Langer 42, S Waugh 41, J Lawson 7/78)

West Indies 240 (B Lara 68, A Bichel 3/53)

Australia 417 (M Hayden 177, J Langer 111, S Waugh 45*, M Dillon 4/112)

West Indies 6/371 (R Sarwan 105, S Chanderpaul 103*, B Lara 60, B Lee 3/52)

Stumps Day 4.

Posted by Andre