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Chanderpaul reaches milestone

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Shivnarine Chanderpaul became just the 10th player to score 10,000 runs as West Indies recovered from a poor start to their run chase by tea on the fourth day of the third and final Test against Australia in Dominica.

Chanderpaul reached the milestone with a single off Australia captain Michael Clarke and was within sight of Sunil Gavaskar's career total of 10,122 ahead of the evening session.

The hosts were in need of a healthy innings from Chanderpaul, who came to the crease with the score on 45 for three in response to the target of 370 they had been set. At tea they were 97 for three, requiring another 273 for victory, with Chanderpaul and Darren Bravo unbeaten on 29 and 23 respectively.

Earlier, local boy Shane Shillingford had taken two wickets in the morning to end with four for 100 in the second innings, and 10 for 219 overall, as Australia were all out for 259.

Ricky Ponting and Ed Cowan's half-centuries were the highest contributions to an unimpressive total, but it still meant the hosts were in pursuit of a testing total.

Resuming on 200 for six - a lead of 310 - on Thursday morning, Australia added a further 20 before Michael Hussey (32) became Shillingford's first victim of the day, and ninth overall, when he was caught by Darren Sammy.

Ryan Harris (nine) and Ben Hilfenhaus (six) were next to fall - the latter becoming Shillingford's 10th wicket to leave the tourists on 237. Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon resisted somewhat and had put on 22 between them before the former was bowled for 21 by Kemar Roach to end the Australia innings.

That saw West Indies set a target of 370 for victory but they made a woeful start, losing Adrian Barath for an 11-ball duck. It was a stunning catch by Cowan, who dived to his right despite a well-timed flick by the batsman.

The hosts' task became harder when Australia removed Kraigg Braithwaite for 14 with the score on 28. Kieran Powell made 24 before being straight bowled by Clarke and any West Indies run chase was looking unlikely.

However, any gloom was brightened as Chanderpaul became only the 10th player to reach 10,000 runs off the Australia skipper. He reached the milestone with a tuck through mid-wicket and, although his own acknowledgement was muted, everyone in the ground rose to applaud.