St. John's (Antigua), Feb. 19: West Indies duo Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul batted through a rain-hit morning session to frustrate England on the final day of the third Test on Thursday.

Sarwan was 73 not out and Chanderpaul unbeaten on 40 as the home team, chasing an unlikely victory target of 503, reached lunch on 196/3 at the Antigua Recreation Ground.

Heavy rain caused a 75-minute delay to the start and when play got underway Chanderpaul and Sarwan survived some lively bowling from pacemen Steve Harmison and James Anderson. As the pitch settled down the pair grew in confidence, bringing up their hundred-run partnership in the last over before the break.

Earlier, England were eyeing a series-levelling victory, after setting West Indies 503 to win the third Test on Wednesday and at stumps on the fourth day needed seven wickets on the final day to secure the win.

England declared their second innings on 221/8 about an hour after the scheduled tea break, and then restricted West Indies to 143/3 in their second innings when stumps were drawn.

Alastair Cook hit the top score of 58 in the England second innings, Paul Collingwood made 34, Kevin Pietersen got 33 as England batted themselves into an impregnable position. For West Indies, Daren Powell collected 2/33 from seven overs, Ryan Hinds 2/45 from 11 overs, and Sulieman Benn 2/58 from 13 overs.

Scores (at lunch): England 566/9 decl. & 221/8 decl. (Cook 58) vs West Indies 285 & 196/3 (Sarwan 73 batting, Chanderpaul 18 batting; Harmison 1/28)

— Agencies