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St Kitts bubble bursts with draw
Indis's hopes of a win were washed away with Dhoni's departure at a crucial juncture.
In yet another heartbreaking finish, the promised thrill at St Kitts turned pale as the third Test between India and West Indies ended in a tame draw.
After the stage was set for a late surge, swashbuckling Dhoni's departure at a crucial juncture in the match turned India's outside chance of victory to dust.
The Indian top order — Sehwag, Jaffer, Laxman and Dravid — all scored half-centuries. But their effort could not fetch that elusive victory for India.
Earlier, needing 392 runs to win, openers Virender Sehwag and Wasim Jaffer gave India a solid start with a 109-run partnership for the first wicket which set the tone for the chase.
Sehwag, as usual, played the more attacking role, and Jaffer complimented him to perfection playing the sheet anchor.
The Delhi opener was, however, dropped twice. Once when he was on five and the next time on 56.
Consequently, India went to lunch without losing any wicket. But Collymore struck on the first ball after the break to dismiss Sehwag trapped in front for a well-notched 65 which included eight hits to the fence.
This brought the gifted Laxman to the crease.
Jaffer, who looked in good touch, brought up his fourth Test fifty against the hosts before he was dismissed by Pedro Collins for 54.
Thereafter, the two stalwarts Laxman and Dravid took over the reins. Laxman played another fine knock after the century in the first innings.
He was involved in a 100-run partnership with Dravid which took India closer to the total before he was caught by Lara in the slips for 63.
Laxman's exit led to Dhoni's arrival and he began his innings in style hitting a huge six.
But all hopes of him taking India home with some hard-hitting faded when he was brilliantly caught by Gayle at cover.
Earlier, West Indies declared their second innings at 172 for six, setting India a target of 392 to win the third Test on the fifth and final day at St Kitts on Monday.
The hosts had resumed their innings on the overnight score of 113 for four and added 61 runs for the loss of two wickets.
Overnight batsman Dwayne Bravo was the first to go, caught Sreesanth off a Kumble delivery for naught.
Marlon Samuels made 20 before he was stumped by Dhoni off Harbhajan Singh.
Daren Ganga continued with his first innings form and hit another fifty. At the time of declaration, he was unbeaten on 66 and Denesh Ramdin was not out on eight.
Day 4
Having decided against enforcing follow-on upon India, West Indies are in a strong position despite losing quick wickets. The hosts have amassed a 332-run lead.
At stumps on the fourth day, Windies were 113/4 with Ganga batting on 41 and Bravo 9 not out.
Earlier, skipper Brian Lara did not impose a follow-on even though India were 19 runs short of avoiding it.
After West Indies decided to bat again, Sreesanth struck early for India to dismiss opener Chris Gayle in the second over of the innings for just 3 runs.
He struck again to dismiss a dangerous-looking Sarwan for 23 runs which included 4 hits to the fence.
Thereafter, Kumble followed suit to send back Chanderpaul (11) and skipper Lara for 19 runs which included two sixes hit off him.
For India, even a gallant century from VVS Laxman and a valiant knock from Harbhajan and Kumble could not help them out of the precarious situation they brought themselves into as they failed to meet the follow-on target and were bowled out for 362.
Needing early wickets to give themselves a winning chance, West Indies got off to a dream start as Jerome Taylor bowled a magical spell to leave India in tatters on the fourth day of the third Test.
The Windies pacer dismissed skipper Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif in the space of six balls to put the hosts in total control at St Kitts.
Taylor got Dravid caught plumb in front in his first over of the day for 22. The skipper had just added two runs to his overnight score.
He then struck again in his second over to send back Yuvraj and Kaif to the pavilion for ducks.
VVS Laxman played a lone ranger as Dhoni too departed after a brief stay at the crease.
He was running short of partners as Dhoni was dismissed leg before by Collymore for 29 and only had a vulnerable tail to join him in his endeavour.
After Dhoni's fall, Kumble joined Laxman at the crease. With the two at the crease, things were looking bright for India.
Laxman combined well with Anil Kumble and went on to score a century, but that was not enough to spare India the blushes.
He was dismissed for 100, caught behind by Ramdin off a Pedro Collins delivery. His 231-ball knock included 15 fours.
Kumble and the tail then held fort for India, prolonging the inevitable.
The leggie came good with the bat and scored 43 runs before he was caught by Collins off Collymore and India were 311 for eight.
Just when it seemed that India would cross the follow-on mark, Munaf Patel fell to Bravo after reviving a 51-run partnership for the last wicket with Harbhajan. The off-spinner remained unbeaten on 38.
