T5 Day 5 Prospect: Can Windies Make it 2-0?

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Sreelata YellamrazuMar 10 2009

Little has gone England’s way. When they have put up huge totals, they have been matched by flair and consistency as West Indies drew level. Be it the Antigua Recreation Ground or Bridgetown, Barbados, the results have whimpered to a predictable draw. Even as the fifth and final Test threatened to head the same way, events at the end of the fourth day’s play at the Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad, have raised unusual hopes but not for the visitors.

kp edwards

When England scored 546 on the back on three big centurions – captain Andrew Strauss, Paul Collingwood and Matt Prior, once again West Indies found themselves in a situation not unfamiliar in this series. After that sensational victory in Sabina Park, Jamaica, West Indies have been faced with England’s large totals on placid pitches and apart from the second Test that was abandoned within the first ten balls of the ball, the story has consistently remained the same.

There was nearly the case of sameness as West Indies fought back, riding on the injured skipper Chris Gayle’s century at the top of the order and Brendon Nash’s scintillating maiden Test century to go with Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s that also featured in the duo taking West Indies within two runs of England’s first innings score.

But the afternoon of the fourth day’s play changed matters dramatically and now if the pitch does not favour the team batting, there could be more interesting climax to a rather anti climatic series. England are three down with eighty on board and Kevin Pietersen and Collingwood at the crease. If West Indies can prove to be hostile as was the confrontation between Pietersen and Fidel Edwards, England could set West Indies an enticing total to chase on the final day. It will then be interesting to watch if the home side can then contain their excitement for an unlikely victory or will it be England who show some initiative and pull off a miracle?

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