Chanderpaul frustrates but Broad gains for England

The obdurate left-hander, reprieved on 15, is still on the crease as hosts finish with 243 for nine on the opening day of the first Test.

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Shivnarine Chanderpaul defied England once again with a tenacious unbeaten 87 to lead West Indies to 243 for nine on the first day of the opening Test at Lord's yesterday.

The obdurate left-hander, reprieved on 15 after reviewing an lbw decision, frustrated the hosts with his awkward crab-like stance and intense concentration to keep his team in the game after England had won the toss in favourable bowling conditions.

Fast bowler Stuart Broad completed figures of six for 72 and James Anderson claimed two early wickets but they could not find a way through Chanderpaul's defences.

England thought they had dismissed him when he shouldered arms to a full-length ball from Anderson and umpire Marais Erasmus raised his finger but a review showed the ball would have missed off stump and Chanderpaul survived.

The world's top-ranked test batsman occasionally came out of his shell with crisp attacking strokes, punching the ball through the covers or sweeping powerfully on the leg side.

He reached his 60th Test fifty with a firm push for two off Anderson and looked in complete control on his sixth tour of England.

Chanderpaul, 37, added 81 for the fifth wicket with Marlon Samuels who batted with commendable restraint to reach 31 before he drove airily at Broad and gave debutant Jonny Bairstow a sharp high catch at cover point.

Broad had Denesh Ramdin caught at first slip by captain Anx drew Strauss for six but Chanderpaul received sensible support from skipper Darren Sammy who made a patient 17 before falling to Broad with the second new ball, caught by Tim Bresnan in the gully.

Kemar Roach became Broad's fifth victim when he spooned the ball back to the bowler who dived to his left and held a fine low catch. It was the tall fast bowler's fifth five-wicket haul in Tests.

Chanderpaul pulled Broad for successive fours just before the close to edge towards his 26th Test century but Fidel Edward's was brilliantly caught one-handed by diving wicketkeeper Matt Prior off Broad in the day's final over.

* Reuters