ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC):

Dogged batting right down the order, led by Ramnaresh Sarwan with his 13th Test hundred, helped West Indies escape from the third Test against England with a draw yesterday.

Sarwan hit the top score of 106, but there were several vital contributions with the bat - including a defiant last wicket-stand between Daren Powell and Fidel Edwards - that allowed West Indies to reach the safety of 370 for nine when bad light stopped play four overs early on the last day at the Antigua Recreation Ground.

10-over spell

Powell and Edwards batted 10 overs, after England scented victory when Graeme Swann had Sulieman Benn lbw for 21 in the first over of the final 15 to leave West Indies on a shaky 370 for nine.

Powell showed a great measure of restraint in the hour that he spent at the crease to finish not out 22, and Edwards, no stranger to such situations, was equally circumspect in the 35 minutes he spent at the crease, as England searched for a victory that would draw them level in the series.

West Indies, however, still lead the five-Test series 1-0, following an innings and 23-run victory in the opening Test at Kingston inside four days, when they bowled England out for their third lowest total of 51 in the second innings.

The fourth Test at Kensington Oval in Barbados begins next Thursday, and the fifth and final Test of the series at Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad starts on March 6.

But Sarwan, in particular, and compatriot Shivnarine Chanderpaul had set things up for West Indies with a fourth-wicket stand of 148 that dominated the first half of the day.

They had carried West Indies to 196 for three at lunch, and were batting comfortably when England captain Andrew Strauss claimed the second new ball about an hour after the interval, and the match started to get interesting.

Dozen fours for sarwan

Chanderpaul had reached 50, when he whipped a full length ball from off-spinner Graeme Swann through mid-wicket for the last of his five boundaries in the final over with the first new ball.

Then Sarwan steered James Anderson - bowling the first over with the second new ball - between second slip and gully to third man for the 11th of his one dozen fours to reach his milestone.

But West Indies suffered two dents to their confidence of saving the match, when Stuart Broad removed Sarwan and Chanderpaul in quick succession.

Sarwan was bowled playing back to a delivery from Stuart Broad that moved back from outside off stump and kept low.

Brendan Nash joined Chanderpaul and they endured a nervous period, and were just getting over it, when Broad struck again.

Chanderpaul, playing back to a short, rising delivery from Broad, stabbed at the ball, and was caught behind for 55 to leave West Indies on 261 for five, and England cock-a-hoop.

Nash and Ramdin negotiated a dicey half-hour before tea before they carried West Indies to the break on 279 for five.

Nash was trapped lbw to Swann for 23 offering no stroke in the fourth over after the break, much to the delight of scores of holidaying British visitors that packed the stands, as England stated to make their final push for victory.

Jerome Taylor joined Denesh Ramdin and they kept England waiting for the next 45 minutes before James Anderson struck for the first time in the match.

Caught at mid-wicket

Taylor was caught at mid-wicket for 11 to give the England fast bowler a wicket in his 40th over of the match, and five overs later, Ramdin was bowled for 21 chopping a delivery into his stumps to give him his second to leave West Indies 322 for eight.

Benn came to the crease and survived a number of leg before shouts and also played a few enterprising strokes before Swann claimed him when he played defensively forward to an arm-ball.

But Powell and Edwards defied England's attack, weary from a long, hard toil on an unresponsive pitch, and without key fast bowler Andrew Flintoff, who was carrying a hip injury and operating way below his best in spite of 15 overs.

Broad was England's most successful bowler with three wickets for 69 runs from 21 overs, Anderson captured two for 68 from 25 overs, and Swann took two for 92 from 39 overs.

ENGLAND 1st Innings

566 for nine declared

(A. Strauss 169, P. Collingwood 113)

WEST INDIES 1st Innings 285

(R. Sarwan 94; G. Swann 5-57)

ENGLAND 2nd Innings

221 for eight declared

(A. Cook 58; D. Powell 2-33)

WEST INDIES 2nd Innings (target: 503 runs)

(overnight 143 for three)