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June 03, 2006 (Click to see the Scorecard)

West Indies continued to stay on top of India at stumps on Day 2 with a significant lead of 77 runs and they still have four more wickets. Windies are well placed at 318 for 6 with Gayle, Sarwan and Bravo scoring half centuries. Sreesanth and VRV Singh leaked runs in plenty as West Indies fed on the two bowler’s erratic line and lengths. India having failed to keep the lead of the West Indies down to a moderate one, look in some serious trouble in this match. Much depends on the way they can bat in the 2nd innings now, but that’s going to be a Herculean effort with the pitch assisting lateral movement and also generating the extra bounce.

 

Resuming at an overnight score of 235/9, India could add up just six more runs with Fidel Edwards cleaning up Munaf with a late away swinger. The no. 10 for India, VRV Singh who had got out before stumps on Day 1 and Munaf Patel, the no.11 batted like good old tail enders of yesteryears by moving away from the stumps and going for wild slogs. The Indian innings lasted just 29 balls this morning and West Indies in their reply lost an early wicket in the form of Daren Ganga. The right hander was struck just marginally outside the offstump by a goodlength delivery that nipped back from Munaf Patel. The ball was seaming around and also swinging whenever the Indian pacers wanted. Munaf was looking in a great rhythm and Chris Gayle decided to shake the inexperienced seamers of India as he launched a brutal onslaught. Sreesanth was in particular clobbered as he bowled lots of short and wide deliveries. Munaf at the other end was losing his concentration, but he bowled decently well. Debutant VRV Singh who had come in from Munaf’s end was the worst of the bowlers from both the teams as he bowled full tosses, long hops and basically sprayed the ball on both sides of the wicket at different lengths each time. He did bowl at a sharp pace, but that only helped West Indies batsmen Gayle and Sarwan to use the pace for timing their shots with ease. At Lunch on the 2nd day’s play, West Indies were off to a rollicking start smashing 81 on the board in 14 overs losing just the wicket of Ganga. Gayle at this stage was on 45 and his innings already had 7 fours and a massive lofted drive for six off Sreesanth.

After lunch, Anil Kumble was pressed into the attack and he too was taken to the cleaners by Gayle. But Kumble showed what experience is all about as he started to hold his length well to Gayle and was soon rewarded with his wicket. Gayle who was playing for the leg break was foxed by the top spinner and ended up edging it to Dravid at first slip. That was the most important wicket for India as Gayle could have taken the game away in a matter of few minutes; he had already done a considerable damage scoring a 91-ball 72. All this while, Sarwan was batting solidly well and he gave away absolutely no chance for the Indians to take his wicket. He was joined by his skipper Lara in the 28th over and the partnership looked to blow India completely out of the game. Lara began his innings with a one-handed cover drive for four as Sreesanth gifted the left hander with an easy full toss. The next ball saw the shot of the match as Lara picked the short one from Sreesanth early and the great man got into a terrific position to hook that one into the stands at mid wicket for a scorching six. Lara was batting like he was during his prime and one shot too many saw his end as he played a loose drive outside offstump, slashing Munaf Patel straight to point. The Skipper was gone for just 18 and that could have been a lot more than that had Lara disciplined himself in his extravagant strokeplay. West Indies went into Tea at 182 for 3 in 41 overs with Sarwan batting on a classy 58 and giving him company was his fellow Guyanese Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

It was the best start India could have asked for after the commencement of the final session. Anil Kumble got he wicket of Sarwan in the very first ball he bowled as the right hander was a bit slow in getting his bat down to defend Kumble’s skidder. India was truly back in the game and now the deficit for the Windies looked quiet a distance. But Bravo came in and turned the tide towards West Indies with his free flowing flick shots. With Chanderpaul grinding the Indian attack, Bravo kept the scoreboard moving with his bold strokeplay to put West Indies in the lead. It was Virender Sehwag who struck twice in his spell to remove both these batsmen but West Indies by then were still in a good position with a lead of 41. Chanderpaul was the first to go as he got an under edge to his attempted cut. Bravo soon followed as he was beaten in the flight and turn from Sehwag and Dhoni who collected the ball that came through the bat pad gap, kept his eye on the ball to collect that cleanly and affect a stumping. Bravo by then had made 68 valuable runs that dashed India’s hopes of coming back in this match. West Indies then had a useful partnership for the 7th wicket between Ramdin and Bradshaw and the pair is still not separated and the two have added 36 after having played almost 15 overs together!

West Indies will like to maximize their lead to as much as possible and they are looking to take time for that as they do not want to chase too big a target in their 2nd innings. As far as the Indians are concerned, they need a couple of hundreds that should get the match in an interesting position. One doubts if that hundred is going to come off Sehwag’s bat as he has a poor 2nd innings track record. We will have to see if the Indian batsmen have the guts to bring their side back in this game or not!

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