Sarwan hits 184 amid video referral controversy

Ramnaresh Sarwan batted all day for a superb 184 not out, his third century of the series, to lead West Indies to 398 for five on the third day of the fourth Test against England on Saturday.

Sarwan's chanceless innings carried West Indies to within 202 runs of England's first innings 600 for six declared on a day tinged with controversy over umpire referral decisions.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who made a smooth 70 in a 122-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Sarwan, and Brendan Nash were given out lbw when third umpire Daryl Harper overturned the onfield official's decision following England referrals.

In both cases the decisions were highly questionable and left coach John Dyson gesticulating on the pavilion balcony.

England's four wickets on Saturday all came from lbw dismissals with Devon Smith (55) and Ryan Hinds (15) trapped by spinner Graeme Swann before lunch.

Swann also later removed Nash for 33.

Harper's decisions, made under a trial system of video referrals that remains a source of much debate, should not take anything away from another outstanding performance by Sarwan.

The right-hander, confidently driving and cutting against some largely unthreatening England bowling, made his second highest test score and continued a rich vein of form.

In four knocks in this series only once has Sarwan failed to make a century and that was when he struck 94 in the third Test in Antigua.

POSITIVE START

West Indies resumed on 85 for one and made a positive start with Smith and Sarwan reaching their half-centuries before Swann struck.

Smith, pushing forward, was ruled leg before after an appeal to the referral system. He and Sarwan had put on 108.

Left-hander Hinds, on his home ground, then went in similar fashion just before lunch.

There was something inevitable about the way Guyanese pair Sarwan and Chanderpaul, so often the backbone of the batting, set about chasing the target of 401 to avoid the follow-on.

Seamer James Anderson's lbw appeal against Chanderpaul looked optimistic, with the ball striking the left-hander high on the pad. Even though the television images seemed to confirm that, he was given out.

Nash, whose tenacious batting has added steel to the West Indies middle-order, was livelier than usual as he made his 33 off 43 balls including a six over third man.

However he too will consider himself unlucky after the television images of Swann's delivery indicated the ball would have gone over the top of the stumps.

Denesh Ramdin joined Sarwan to see things through to the close, the wicketkeeper making 25 not out.

West Indies lead the five-match series 1-0.

Scorecard

England (1st innings): 600-6 declared (A. Strauss 142, A. Cook 94, P. Collingwood 96, R. Bopara 104, T. Ambrose 76 not out.

 West Indies (1st innings): (overnight 85-1)
 D. Smith lbw b Swann 55
 C. Gayle lbw b Anderson 6
 R. Sarwan not out 184
 R. Hinds lbw b Swann 15
 S. Chanderpaul lbw b Anderson 70
 B. Nash lbw b Swann 33
 D. Ramdin not out 25
 Extras: (b-4 lb-3 nb-3) 10
 Total: (five wickets, 109 overs) 398

 To bat: J. Taylor, S. Benn, D. Powell, F. Edwards.

 Fall of wickets: 1-13 2-121 3-159 4-281 5-334

 Bowling: J.Anderson 20-3-79-2; R.Sidebottom 22-2-83-0; S.Broad 21-2-86-0; G.Swann 34-7-92-3; K.Pietersen 5-1-18-0; R.Bopara 7-0-33-0 (3nb).