Six minutes before tea on the fourth day, Shivnarine Chanderpaul finally cracked. Another Test innings of monumental patience ended when he swept at Graeme Swann and Marais Erasmus raised his finger for the lbw decision that England begged. Even then he made them wait, and the Lord's crowd with them, as he called for a review, but technology granted no clemency: the ball was shown to be striking leg stump.
It had been an innings so introspective that it turned all those who watched it into introverts, increasingly wrapped up in their own thoughts as they respectfully observed an innings of rare discipline. The afternoon session leaked only 53 runs in 28 overs, grim fare indeed. At tea, it looked unlikely to spare the West Indies: they led by 110 runs with only four wickets remaining. But in a situation where saving the game was the only thing on their mind his dedication had commanded respect.
Chanderpaul has batted for nearly ten-and-a-half hours in this match, his progress so painstaking that his 26th Test century still eluded him. He followed an unbeaten 87 in the first innings with 91 second time around before his laborious resistance, characterised by furtive flicks into the leg side, was finally broken.
It was not solely about Chanderpaul because alongside him Marlon Samuels summoned one of his most disciplined Test displays, 86 from 172 balls, as West Indies resisted with great dedication. Chanderpaul's placid refusal to quit seemed to have influenced his partner, who produced what flashes of entertainment there were for a patient crowd and who can rarely have batted so judiciously for his country.
It was a monotonous day, decidedly chilly, too, with a brisk northerly wind. If this abysmal weather continues much longer egg-and-bacon overcoats will be de rigueur in London NW8. As for the West Indies players, those who ventured onto the balcony to convey their support for an immensely worthy innings wore white towels over their heads. If Shiv had batted much longer England's bowlers would soon have been looking for white flags.
The second new ball, due one over into the afternoon session, was not the panacea for which England had hoped - but it did account for Samuels. They took it gratefully at 212 for 4, after suffering a wicketless morning, and it was into its sixth over when Stuart Broad had Samuels caught at second slip. It ended a fifth-wicket stand of 157 runs in 54 overs and Broad puffed out his cheeks in relief.
Tim Bresnan, previously an economical but unthreatening third seamer, then produced his most insistent spell of the match, without reward. Broad occasionally flogged life from a sedate surface and with James Anderson also passing the edge at regular intervals without reward, England's frustration became increasingly evident. It was left to Swann to summon a random bit of magic.
At the start of play, West Indies trailed by 35 and forecasts abounded that the game would be up by lunchtime. But the pitch remained slow, it was too cold to swing, and England were again faced with the problem of how on earth to rid themselves of Chanderpaul's silent resistance. Shiv was Shiv, engaged in an extensive exercise in problem solving. His fifty came in 151 balls and three-and-threequarter hours as he inside-edged Bresnan past leg stump. It was one of his few errors. He raised his bat as if disgusted with himself.
They began by bowling wide at him, as they had on Saturday, the repetitive cricket causing spectators to bury themselves dejectedly into their overcoats. When they were driven into bowling straighter, Chanderpaul routinely worked them behind square. England might have been better posting a leg gully, anything to suggest that the shot had an element of risk.
Broad found Samuels' edge; Anderson found Chanderpaul's, but on both occasions the ball fell short of slip. They were reluctant to bowl fuller because there was no movement but as Chanderpaul was as likely to sing a song as drive down the ground their reluctance was hard to fathom. They spent much of the morning trying to get the ball changed, to no avail.
There was always the chance of a run out because Chanderpaul is so immersed in his own game that he is often oblivious to the needs of his partner. He might have been run out by Kevin Pietersen's underarm flick from short mid wicket on 38 when Samuels wanted a single. On another time he ambled halfway down the pitch on the assumption of a single to mid-off and had to retreat as his thought processes were not shared by Samuels. He looked hurt by the thought that he might have been run out and his glare at least found some use for the anti-reflective war paint below his eyes. He did not say anything: like most introverts, he deals in non verbal cues.
Alongside Chanderpaul, Samuels grew in authority. The lesson about how to construct a Test innings, and fight for your team, was seeping in. He was struck on the shoulder by a short ball from Broad and concluded that it was time to adopt a more aggressive approach, pulling him thunderously through midwicket. England will remain convinced that he is shaky on the short ball. Swann's introduction was even more to his liking
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