Chamara Kapugedera

Shivnarine Chanderpaul hits a last ball six to win

This was the perfect example of how great batsmen play the situation. Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s an obdurate Test batsman. He hangs around for hours. In one-day cricket, he’s a different beast. He’s A BEAST OF WRATH. Controlled wrath, but wrath nonetheless.

The West Indies needed ten to win off the last two balls against Sri Lanka yesterday. It didn’t matter that they were nine wickets down, both balls had to exit the field of play. Shiv hit a four and then calmly volleyed a six. Job done.

You don’t get the coveted Lord Megachief of Gold title without being half decent, but Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s continuing to justify his selection.

Chamara Kapugedera had earlier hit a rescue act 95 after Sri Lanka had been 49-5. Kapugedera’s played a few matches, but this is one of the first signs that it might be worth learning his name. Maybe one day ‘Chamara Kapugedera’ will trip off the tongue as easily as ‘Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Lord Megachief of Gold’.