Dravid and pacemen hand India initiative
A typically resolute century by Rahul Dravid and the new-ball pair of
Ishant Sharma and Praveen Kumar put India in a strong position for
victory in the first Test against West Indies on Wednesday.
Dravid made 112 - his 32nd test century - before he was the last man
dismissed, as the Indians were bowled out for 252 in their second
innings on the third day at Sabina Park, setting the hosts 326 for
victory.
Sharma and Kumar then put the brakes on a promising West Indies
start, removing the home team's top order, as they reached 131 for three
in their second innings at stumps.
Kumar made the breakthrough, when he had Adrian Barath caught at a
deliberately-placed third slip for a quick-fire 38, leaving West Indies
62 for one.
Next over, Sharma condemned Ramnaresh Sarwan to another failure, when
the stylish right-hander edged a loose, flat-footed drive, and was
caught at gully for a second-ball duck.
Sharma continued to plug away, gaining appreciable bounce and
movement from the hard, true pitch, and was rewarded when he bowled
Lendl Simmons for 27.
The Indian bowlers continued to probe away for the remainder of the
day, but Darren Bravo, not out on 30, and fellow left-hander Shivnarine
Chanderpaul, not out on 24, resisted firmly, putting on 51 - unbroken -
for the fourth wicket.
Earlier, Dravid was a pillar of defiance, batting in typically dogged
fashion for close to seven hours, striking 10 fours and one six from 274
balls, and holding the innings together in the face of purposeful
bowling from West Indies. He reached his hundred from 252 balls, dabbing
a delivery from Fidel Edwards into point for a single.
Dravid shared in an important ninth-wicket stand of 56 with Amit
Mishra, after West Indies captain Darren Sammy removed Harbhajan Singh
and Kumar in the space of three balls, as India slipped to 183 for eight
in the first 35 minutes after lunch. AFP |