Chanderpaul paves way for leveller

A superb hundred from Shivnarine Chanderpaul enabled the West Indies to draw level in the NatWest Series with England after a comfortable 61-run success at Edgbaston.

Chanderpaul hit an unbeaten 116 as the West Indies amassed 278 for five in their 50 overs and then a four-wicket blast from paceman Ravi Rampaul ensured England were never in serious contention in reply.

They were eventually dismissed for 217 after 46 overs. Now the two teams will go head to head in the decider at Trent Bridge on Saturday.

Chanderpaul fully justified the Windies decision to promote him from number five to three in the batting order with his seventh ODI hundred.

He was moved up after being stranded on 53 not out in the first one-day meeting at Lord's on Sunday and responded with a perfectly paced innings after the tourists had been put into bat in overcast conditions.

Chanderpaul's partnership of 175 in 33 overs with Marlon Samuels - a record on the ground for the third wicket in limited overs internationals - was the bedrock of the Windies total.

The last 10 overs realised 102 runs and England paceman Jimmy Anderson felt the brunt of the onslaught, conceding 56 from his last four overs to finish with one for 78.

The tourists opening attack of Rampaul and Daren Powell made quick inroads into the England innings and Powell was the first to strike when Alastair Cook, after making 19 off 23 deliveries, miscued a drive to Fidel Edwards at mid-off.

The West Indians were jubilant when Kevin Pietersen on nine tried to work the ball on the leg side and was bowled by Rampaul.

Much now depended on Owais Shah and he was given good support by Michael Yardy in a sixth-wicket stand of 54. But England's hopes effectively ended when the duo departed in successive overs.