LONDON, CMC – West Indies batsman Shiv Chanderpaul was carrying the fight for Derbyshire after another batting collapse left them in danger of defeat on the penultimate day of their opening English County fixture against Essex yesterday.
Set 366 for victory at Chelmsford, Derbyshire closed the day on 167 for five, with the veteran left-hander unbeaten on 41 and within sight of his second half-century of the game.
Derbyshire were well poised on 70 for one at one stage before 21-year-old left-arm seamer Tymal Mills (3-29) tore through the middle order to trigger a collapse.
Chanderpaul added 50 for the fourth wicket with Leeward Islands left-hander Chesney Hughes (24), to lift Derbyshire from a shaky position of 85 for three.
Once Hughes was trapped lbw to Mills, Wes Durston (7) quickly followed, giving Essex the upper hand heading into today’s final day.
Chanderpaul hit an unbeaten 75 in Derby’s first innings of 154, as the visitors replied to Essex’s meagre 94 all out. The hosts, however, piled up 425 in their second innings, behind England captain Alistair Cook’s 181.
At New Road, former West Indies batsman Brendan Nash was involved in a similar fight as Kent closed the penultimate day on 51 for three, in pursuit of 266 for victory.
The left-handed Nash, who last played for West Indies three years ago in Jamaica, was unbeaten on 14 and was partnered by Ben Harmison on nine.
