Date-stamped : 06 Aug95 - 22:25 Tour Match: Somerset v West Indies Taunton, 2, 3, 4 August 1995 ====> Day 1, 2 Aug 95 Chanderpaul in charge - David Green First day of three: Somerset (162-6) trail West Indies (230) by 68 runs A CENTURY of much charm and brilliance from their young left- hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul saved the West Indies from embar- rassment after they had declined to 71 for five having chosen to bat on a hard, fast pitch. Somerset, with Andrew Caddick and Graham Rose injured and Mushtaq Ahmed rested, fielded a weakened attack. But they were well- served by Jason Kerr, whose five for 82 was a career best, Simon Ecclestone and Andre van Troost. These bowlers, though, were certainly helped by some careless strokes. Selwyn Williams drove loosely to give a return catch, Junior Murray prodded at a wide one, Jimmy Adams mis-hooked and Keith Arthurton chipped gently into the hands of square leg. Only Richie Richardson of the early batsmen hinted at permanence and even he, after playing solidly for 90 minutes, was betrayed by impatience and caught behind. By then, however, Chanderpaul, slightly built and very composed, had taken charge. An early pull for four off Kerr clearly demonstrated Chanderpaul`s perfect timing. His strokes do not have the flour- ish of Brian Lara`s but within his compact, balanced style, his strokes are beautifully produced. Van Troost, bowling fast and getting plenty of bounce, was hooked brilliantly off Chanderpaul`s eyebrows, the ball smacking into the boards a split second later, and Andy Hayhurst conceded three succulent successive fours. When Courtney Browne top-edged Kerr, Rob Turner gained his sixth victim to earn a share of Somerset`s wicketkeeping record held jointly by Harold Stephenson, Geoff Clayton and Derek Taylor. Meanwhile, drives either side of the wicket, cuts and clips fair- ly flowed from Chanderpaul`s bat. His hundred came off only 104 balls with 20 boundaries, immediately after which he was lbw playing half forward to Ecclestone. When Somerset batted, it was only to be expected that the West Indian fast bowlers would find the pitch to their liking and Mark Lathwell soon met problems, Vasbert Drakes producing one that nipped back to clip the top of middle stump. Peter Bowler edged Ottis Gibson to first slip and then Drakes, coming round the wicket to the left-handed Piran Holloway, got one to bounce for a gloved catch to Bishop at first slip. The leg-spinner Rajinder Dhanraj had Keith Parsons caught behind aiming to cut and when Hayhurst gloved a lifter from Gibson to short square leg, Somerset, in turn, found themselves in consid- erable trouble at 83 for five before Ecclestone and Turner put bat to ball. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com) ====> Day 2, 3 Aug 95 Somerset`s van Troost puts Adams in hospital - David Green Second day of three: West Indians (230 & 276-6) lead Somerset (374) by 132 runs JIMMY ADAMS, one of the most significant components of the West Indian cricket machine, seems certain to be out of the current Test series after receiving a sickening blow beneath the right eye from Somerset`s Andre van Troost. Coming in to bat shortly after 5 O`clock with the West Indies comfortably placed at 218 for two in their second innings, Adams appeared to lose sight of the first ball he received and ducked into it. The ball was shortish but could have been played defensively with a straight bat. Immediately before, the West Indies captain, Richie Richardson, having made a fluent 88, apparently lost sight of a delivery from van Troost and was bowled offering no stroke. Richardson confirmed after the close that Adams had sustained a depressed fracture of the cheekbone. "We don`t know yet if sur- gery will be necessary," he said. The manager, Wes Hall, and the coach, Andy Roberts, remained with Adams at the local Musgrove Park Hospital, while a concerned van Troost was due to visit Adams last night. Though Adams`s performances so far in this series have not been dominant - he made half-centuries at Headingley and Edgbaston but otherwise has not passed 30 - it would have taken a brave man to bet against his coming good in the last two Tests. Adams, like Robin Smith, was not using a grille. If he had done so the impact of the ball would certainly have been greatly re- duced. His injury means an almost certain return to Test cricket for Shivnarine Chanderpaul, whose current form is excellent, as evi- denced by his brilliant century in the first innings of this match. Like Adams, he is a left-hander. Chanderpaul`s Test record is more than useful, particularly for one who has only just turned 21. In seven Tests, and 10 innnings, he has passed 50 six times and has an average of over 60 for a shade above 400 runs. He was held back from the recent Test series against Australia owing to difficulties encountered with Shane Warne`s leg-spin outside the Tests. With England`s attack being more straightfor- ward, this fine young player has a great opportunity. During the earlier part of the day, the bat had been very much on top of the ball, with Somerset, at one time 83 for five, estab- lishing a first-innings lead of 144 and the West Indies respond- ing with a forceful display. Somerset`s heroes were Rob Turner, who underpinned the fightback with a three-hour 72, and Jason Kerr, who followed career-best bowling figures with a career-best batting performance, his at- tractive 80 including 13 fours and a six. When the West Indies batted again, they soon lost Junior Murray. But Stuart Williams and Richardson, dealing mainly in boundaries, took advantage of ill-directed bowling and a benign pitch to add 206 together at over five an over. Williams made a rapid 119 off 131 balls with three sixes and 19 fours. His departure, caught at long leg hooking, began a mini- collapse which was halted by Chanderpaul and Ottis Gibson. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com) ====> Day 3, 04 Aug 95 Gibson shakes up Somerset - David Green West Indians (230 & 386) bt Somerset (374 & 87) by 155 runs THE West Indians, with Ottis Gibson very much to the fore, shook themselves free of the lethargy which marred some of their play on the first two days to inflict a heavy defeat on Somerset, who had appeared to be strongly placed. Gibson, who had been 32 not out overnight with the West Indians not looking too happy on 276 for six, only 132 runs ahead of Somerset`s first-innings total, produced a spectacular display of clean hitting, reaching his maiden first-class century off 69 balls with eight fours and seven sixes. The Barbadian, 26, followed up with an incisive new-ball burst, taking the first four Somerset wickets in 19 balls at a personal cost of nine runs. Leg-spinner Rajindra Dhanraj then mopped up the tail. Somerset can hardly have anticipated these ignominies when, in the day`s second over, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who had just driven and pulled Andre van Troost for vivid boundaries, was caught behind down the leg side while attempting to withdraw his bat. Gibson responded with an astonishing six off van Troost, a length ball being struck flat over long on with a baseball stroke. With Ian Bishop batting comfortably in orthodox style, the fifty partnership came up after only 10 overs. Bishop was then caught off bat and pad at short mid-off after which Gibson turned his attention to Jeremy Batty, striking him for four sixes in two overs, three of them clearing the old pavi- lion and one landing on its balcony. Gibson`s century was warmly applauded by a shirt-sleeved crowd, but he was left high and dry when Batty gained some consolation for the punishment he had received by picking up Dhanraj`s wick- et, also caught off bat and pad. Somerset`s victory target of 243 in 45 overs was always going to be a tall order if the West Indian bowlers performed as they can, even though the pitch remained easy and the outfield lightning fast. Bishop bowled at a good pace and with control, but it was Gibson who did the damage, assisted by some very moderate batting. He found Peter Bowler and Andy Hayhurst`s edges and then induced Mark Lathwell to mis-hook. Keith Parsons edged Gibson to the wicketkeeper and Simon Eccle- stone ran himself out stupidly. The first-innings highest scor- ers, Rob Turner and Jason Kerr, fell cheaply and Dhanraj took the last three wickets, assisted by strokes of embarrassing rustici- ty. The West Indians now move on to Bristol to play Gloucestershire. They were cheered by good news of Jimmy Adams, who suffered a depressed fracture of the cheekbone when he was hit by a ball from van Troost on Thursday. "Jimmy is in very good spirits and not feeling any pain," Wes Hall, the manager, after the match. Adams was released from the local Musgrove Park Hospital at mid- day yesterday and travelled to Bristol independently. He will join his team-mates in their hotel, where he is likely to remain during the three-day match with Gloucestershire. He will be examined by a specialist on Tuesday in Nottingham, where his team will play the fifth Test. With the swelling by then likely to have diminished, the damage will be accurately as- sessed and an operation performed if necessary. With Carl Hooper expected to be fit for the Test, the West Indi- ans have no thoughts of sending for a replacement. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@*ogi.edu)