Chanderpaul shows glimpses of form

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC):

VETERAN left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul hit a patient 44 on the last day of the drawn two-day tour match against Pakistan here yesterday.

The 36-year-old, who has criticised the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) in recent weeks over his non-selection for the one-day series, stroked five fours in an innings lasting 113 balls and 162 minutes.

Guyana were 252 for six when rain ended the day's play at Bourda prematurely, in response to Pakistan's 330 for seven declared.

Openers Shemroy Barrington (58) and Trevon Griffith (55) put on 77 for the first wicket, after Guyana resumed from their overnight 25 without loss.

Barrington struck six fours and two sixes off 89 balls, while Griffith, making his senior team debut, stroked nine fours off 68 balls before edging seamer Tanvir Ahmed behind.

The right-handed Barrington added another 63 for the second wicket with Narsingh Deonarine (40), but became the first of two victims for off-spinner Saeed Ajmal (2-41), when he fell lbw at 140 for two.

Chanderpaul received a standing ovation from the small crowd and set about his innings quietly, losing Deonarine at 161 for three to Ajmal and Leon Johnson (15) at 194 for four.

Playing his first competitive innings since the World Cup ended, Chanderpaul showed touches of class before he was bowled by left-armer Junaid Khan.