GAME ON GAME OVER GAME ON GAME OVER

i was getting quite excited by the prospect of being able to say in future years whenever channel 9 flashes up the record run chases – I was at that test match in bridgetown when the windies chased 475 to win

its easy to get convinced of fanciful outcomes early in test innings

bra v o and chanderpaul were going along brilliantly. bra v o choosing the ball to hit with great patience and discretion and he usually would hit it for six. chanderpaul was batting as brilliantly as he always bats. the partnership was in absolute supremacy. but then a strange moment. lee was bowling to a leg theory field against bra v o a shortish square leg a short leg and a leg gully. bra v o was keeping him out. the partnership was in supremacy – lee and australia weer starting to get desperate. then chanderpaul hit lee through the on side – it was an easy single. astonishingly he didnt take it. he was protecting bra v o from the strike. the statement was – actually we aren’t supreme here, we still feel fragile. only a couple of overs later bra v o seemed to be wanting to smash casson for 6, decided to defend instead and was caught at silly point. chanderpaul fell shortly after to clarke with the new ball. game over

taylor came in swinging and connecting and the required runs were dropping fast, chattergoon hobbled in to bat with a runner (an extra wkt!) – game on

kinda – realistically taylors batting was not sustainable and the ball after passing his highest test score he was gone for 31 slashing at a nice line delivery from johnson

really game over

there was a nice little partneship between fidel and powell at the end where powell refused to let fidel face lee. he wouldnt take singles. fidel seemed to be infuriated. at one point powell thought he could push for 2 but fidel ran up to the strikers end put his hand up and said NO. it was a lark. of course lee dismissed powell to end the test match and the series n my tour