Shiv: I was down but never out
“I was down but never out.” That’s the message from West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul as he revealed how he went about his amazing innings of 118 against Australia on the third day of the 1st Digicel Test at Sabina Park on Saturday.During his innings Chanderpaul was struck on the head and fell to the ground. However, he did not leave the field and soldiered on to his 18th Test century and was last man out as the Windies reached 312.
“When I went down I did not know where I was. My entire body went numb, I could not move my hands and I could not move my feet. I was down but when I found myself I decided to get up and continue the fight. I was in pain, it was hurting. I was down but not out,” Chanderpaul said.
“I told myself that if I left the field we would have been in a bad state in this match and I did not want to leave at that stage. I knew I had a job to do and I told myself I had to stay around and take control for the team.
“It was one of my best innings. I was happy to pull through and get a major score and keep the team’s hopes alive. I like the way the team has been fighting and the positive attitude we have in the camp.”
Chanderpaul praised teammates Runako Morton and Dwayne Bravo for the way their batted on Saturday. Morton made a fighting 67 off 135 ball in a fourth wicket stand of 131 with Chanderpaul, while Bravo hit 46, helping Chanderpaul to add 64 for the fifth wicket.
Late in the evening fast bowlers Fidel Edwards and Daren Powell took four wickets and this also pleased Chanderpaul.
“You have to give credit to Bravo and Morton for the way the fight they showed when we were batting. Then in the evening, Fidel and Powell bowled their hearts out to give us a chance in this match.”
* SOURCE: West Indies Cricket Board.