The Jamaica Star :: Sport :: Sarwan hails Shiv's outstanding effort in drawn Test

West Indies' captain Ramnaresh Sarwan (left) is congratulated by batting partner Shivnarine Chanderpaul after reaching a century in the second innings on the final day of the second cricket Test match against Australia at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in St John's, Antigua, on Tuesday. Both batsmen batted out the final day to secure a draw for the West Indies - AP

ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC)

West Indies captain Ramnaresh Sarwan Tuesday paid tribute to the durable Shivnarine Chanderpaul following his Man-of-the-Match performance in drawing the second Digicel Test against Australia here Tuesday.

"It's very hard to find words to describe him. Over the last three years he has shown his consistency and he keeps getting better with age, and it is really good for us as a team and, hopefully, we as batters can learn from him," Sarwan said.

Chanderpaul carved out an unbeaten 107 in the West Indies' first innings of 352 in response to Australia's 479 for seven declared.

Final day

The left-hander then scored 77 not out as West Indies batted out the final day to reach 266 for five and earn a draw at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.

"It was good to save a Test match, it was good. Barbados is a new one, who knows what's going to happen out there," the 33-year old told reporters.

"In cricket anything is possible. We just have to go and get our heads in the game and play some good cricket."

Sarwan played a huge role in the West Indies' effort, completing a fine 128, his 11th Test century. With the West Indies having stuttered to 84 for three in pursuit of an improbable 372 for victory, Sarwan and Chanderpaul staged a crucial 143-run, fourth-wicket stand to foil the Aussies.

"Our focus was to take every session as it is," Sarwan explained.

"We needed to survive but at the same time we needed to be positive and then we would have taken it from lunch time and then analyse it at tea time. All in all we just wanted to be positive throughout the day."

The third and final Digicel Test of the three-match series bowls off on June 12 at Kensington Oval in Barbados.