GROS ISLET (ST LUCIA): Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s five-wicket haul left West Indies in a spot of bother as they were bowled out for 225 in reply to India’s first innings score of 353. However, with just over four sessions to go now, this Test is clearly heading towards a draw despite an exciting start to an extended morning session.
Both overnight batsmen were dismissed before a period of counter-attack from Marlon Samuels but the most memorable piece of action for the day was dictated from the third umpire’s room during Darren Bravo’s dismissal.
Ishant Sharma delivered a short ball that Bravo tried to hook but only got an edge that flew to Ravindra Jadeja at long-leg. However, when the umpires went upstairs to check for the front-foot no ball, Ishant’s heel was found to be on the line. Some part of the bowler’s heel has to behind the crease for a legal delivery but after several replays from different angles, TV umpire Gregory Brathwaite felt Ishant could be allowed his wicket.
Till then, West Indies looked in good nick. Kraigg Brathwaite minimised the risks as much as possible and Bravo was finally looking good to make amends to his horrible run in this series. But just how much a rough decision can affect a team’s morale was evident in Brathwaite’s quick dismissal.
He had no reason to be ruffled by a ball spinning away from him and down the leg. But Brathwaite couldn’t resist the temptation of going at it, inducing a faint edge that wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha didn’t even realise was an edge till his teammates appealed. With the pitch breaking up, Virat Kohli continued to attack with R Ashwin and Jadeja. Samuels was looking to take the attack.
{{/usCountry}}He had no reason to be ruffled by a ball spinning away from him and down the leg. But Brathwaite couldn’t resist the temptation of going at it, inducing a faint edge that wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha didn’t even realise was an edge till his teammates appealed. With the pitch breaking up, Virat Kohli continued to attack with R Ashwin and Jadeja. Samuels was looking to take the attack.
{{/usCountry}}Blackwood couldn’t make much headway though, falling to a beautiful away-swinger from Bhuvneshwar. Two overs later, Bhuvneshwar removed Samuels.