chris gayle hits ton but Windies falter
Day 3 proved to be a lacklustre display of cricket for the most part. The game ebbed and flowed sporadically throughout the day with a miniscule 192 runs scored – an old fashioned Test run rate. At the start of the day the situation was all set for the Windies to put sorry England to the sword with their charismatic captain and senior right hander at the crease.
Whilst Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan went on to score centuries they were dismissed shortly afterwards and the West Indies only amounted a lead of 34 runs finishing on 352 for 7
The biggest talking point of the game so far is the impact of the referral system in Test Cricket. Its impact was once more illustrated when Gayle was given out caught down the legside off the bowling of Andrew Flintoff with the umpire agreeing. After referral, however, the decision was reversed as replays showed the ball had brushed Gayle’s trousers.
In the best episode of a paint-drying day Gayle after his just fortune brought up his 3 figures with 6-6-3 off Panesar in 3 consecutive balls.
This was just a flash in the pan as slow scoring was the name of the day. Watertight England bowling dominated – despite the West Indies so well set – with 28 overs going for 34 runs for the loss of 4 wickets.
The game looks set to peter out into an uninspiring draw. It’s not fun reporting on this kind of cricket but some credit has to go to the England bowlers, in particular Stuart Broad who finished with figures of 3 for 61.
Will this game be a draw?
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