Supporting Grass Roots, Local & Schools Cricket in 2012

 Ian Bell is all too aware of what is standing in England’s way as they pursue victory in the first Investec Test against West Indies.

The home side seem to be closing in on the perfect start to their summer, with West Indies’ position – they are 35 adrift of England on 120 for four in their second innings – looking perilous.

Crucially, though, run-machine Shivnarine Chanderpaul – who hit 87 not out in the first innings – remains at the crease following a typically obdurate display this evening.

The world’s number-one ranked batsman took 71 deliveries to hit his first boundary today, yet ended on 34 from 95 balls.

Bell and England know the work that will be required to not only dislodge Chanderpaul, who has already faced 270 balls in this encounter, tomorrow but in the rest of the rubber too.

“We knew we had to work hard, even more so to get Chanderpaul out in that middle order - in the series, let alone in this innings,” said England’s number five, who struck 61 today.

“It would have been nice (to get Chanderpaul out). But it's Test cricket against the number-one batsman in the world, so we expected him to fight against our attack.”

Indeed, Chanderpaul will fight – though it is often the lone vigil in which he specialises.

This evening, however, the Guyanese found a willing allay in Marlon Samuels, with whom he shared an unbroken 55-run stand at a point when England may have been scenting a three-day finish