Sign in

Windies amass comfortable lead

Choosing not to enforce follow-on upon India, the hosts are in a strong position despite losing quick wickets. Scorecard

Updated on: Jun 30, 2006, 20:28:00 IST
None | By , St Kitts
Share
Share via
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
Copy link
  • copy link

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.

HT Image
HT Image

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.

Day 3

Having lost both the openers after a promising start, skipper Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman have a lot of work to do to steer India to safety.

At stumps on the third day, India were trailing by 431 runs with Dravid batting on 20 and Laxman unbeaten on 28.

Earlier, facing a herculean task after West Indies piled a mammoth total, India got off to a desired start with a 61-run opening stand between Virender Sehwag and Wasim Jaffer.

But just before tea, India lost Virender Sehwag after making a brisk start to their first innings.

Corey Collymore struck for the hosts in his first over to remove the in-form Sehwag for 31 when he edged a simple catch to Brian Lara at second slip.

However, after Sehwag's departure Jaffer led the Indian reply with a gritty half-century playing alongside Laxman.

Lara picked up his second catch at second slip when Jaffer edged a Dwayne Bravo delivery. The Mumbai batsman scored 60 off 101 balls, which included 10 hits to the fence.

Jaffer and VVS Laxman put on a 63-run second wicket stand.

Earlier, in a dramatic turn of events, Harbhajan Singh triggered a lower order collapse to bowl out West Indies for 581 in the first innings soon after lunch on the third day of the third Test.

The off-spinner made a triumphant return to the Test side picking up five wickets and cleaning up the West Indies tail in no time at all.

West Indies lost their last five wickets for just 45 runs. Shivnaraine Chanderpaul was left stranded on 97 at the other end as the West Indies lower order was devoured by the Turbanator.

Resuming on the overnight score of 420 for five, the West Indies continued to torment India as they cruised along to 536 for five at lunch.

But just after the lunch break, Sehwag came to India's rescue when he dismissed Samuels for a well-compiled 87 that included eight boundaries and three sixes.

Samuels and Chanderpaul put in place a 156-run partnership for the sixth wicket.

From then on Harbhajan took over the charge and wrapped up the West Indies tail.

He first got Ramdin caught for three. Taylor followed him to the pavilion after scoring just two runs. Pedro Collins was the next to go for one.

The Turbanator then picked up his final wicket when he bowled out Corey Collymore for a duck.

Check India news real-time updates, latest news on Hindustan Times and more across India.