The Hindu : Sport : West Indies dismissed for a paltry total

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Tuesday, Jun 13, 2006

Sport

Sport

West Indies dismissed for a paltry total

S. Ram Mahesh

— PHOTO: AP

BEATEN: Mahendra Singh Dhoni takes a brilliant catch off Anil Kumble to dismiss Chris Gayle on the third day of the second Test on Monday.

Gros Islet: India made critical incisions in the West Indies batting on the third day, to dismiss the home side for 215 — as tea was deferred for the fall of the last wicket — in response to its 588 for eight declared. Rahul Dravid's men thus put themselves in line on the pivotal middle day to force a result in the second Test.

Resuming on 65 for three, overnight batsmen Chris Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul looked in little strife on Monday morning. The former lashed a couple through the off-side in an otherwise quiet period for him; the latter thrust his hands at two square drives. Nothing inauspicious, all was well, as the drinks break signalling the end of the first hour approached. The pair had taken West Indies to 106.

But, before the refreshments cart could enter the field, Kumble struck. Gayle had wandered down and pulled a half-tracker for six. The next eluded Dhoni down the leg-side. Then, one popped off a length, and the wicketkeeper took it well, building confidence for what was to happen.

One of Kumble's flat leg-breaks turned an iota into Gayle, who contrived to outer edge it. The nick clanged out of Dhoni's mitts, but went right back in: Kumble's Walsh-equaling 519th wicket. Then, reverse swing — conspicuous by its absence on tour before the Test — did its bit for Pathan. A full delivery snaked into Chanderpaul's pad.

Five for 106: within five balls either side of the drinks break, West Indies had gone from the calm that comes from a job well-done to the unrest an onerous task brings on. Dwayne Bravo and Denesh Ramdin were up to it. The pair took their side to lunch without further alarm.

A passing shower — one of many that frequent the Beausejour Cricket Ground — deposited its contents at lunch; there was no delay. Bravo and Ramdin had put on 61 for the sixth wicket, when Kumble went past Walsh, forty minutes into the second session. He squared Bravo up with a tight leg-break that took the edge en route to an excellent low catch at first slip by Dravid.

Munaf had Ramdin flashing outside off for Dhoni to complete a smart tumbling pouch. West Indies was still 410 behind at this stage. Taylor biffed his way to 23 before finding a fielder off Sehwag, who the got Collins caught at slip.

On Sunday, India lost Kumble after tea, and Dravid called his batsmen in.

SCOREBOARD

India — 1st innings: W. Jaffer c Bravo b Collins 43, V. Sehwag c & b Collins 180, V.V.S. Laxman c Ramdin b Collins 0, R. Dravid c Lara b Sarwan 146, Y. Singh b Collins 2, M. Kaif (not out) 148, M.S. Dhoni c Ganga b Bradshaw 9, I. Pathan c Ganga b Gayle 19, A. Kumble b Taylor 14; Extras (b-4, lb-7, nb-12, w-4) 27. Total (for eight wickets decl. in 148.2 overs) 588.

Fall of wickets: 1-159 (Jaffer), 2-161 (Laxman), 3-300 (Sehwag), 4-306 (Yuvraj), 5-485 (Dravid), 6-517 (Dhoni), 7-555 (Pathan), 8-588 (Kumble).

West Indies bowling: Collins 28-5-116-4, Taylor 24.2-4-88-1, Bravo 10-0-66-0, Collymore 21-1-92-0, Bradshaw 26-6-80-1, Sarwan 18-0-83-1, Gayle 21-6-52-1.

West Indies — 1st innings: C. Gayle c Dhoni b Kumble 46, D. Ganga lbw b Munaf 16, R. Sarwan lbw b Munaf 0, B. Lara lbw b Kumble 7, S. Chanderpaul lbw b Pathan 30, D. Bravo c Dravid b Kumble 25, D. Ramdin c Dhoni b Munaf 30, I. Bradshaw c & b Sehwag 20, J. Taylor c Kaif b Sehwag 23, P. Collins c Dravid b Sehwag 0, C. Collymore (not out) 2; Extras (b-5, lb-2, nb-9) 16. Total (in 85.1 overs, at tea) 215.

Fall of wickets: 1-36 (Ganga), 2-36 (Sarwan), 3-55 (Lara), 4-106 (Gayle), 5-106 (Chanderpaul), 6-167 (Bravo), 7-178 (Ramdin), 8-209 (Taylor), 9-210 (Collins).

India bowling: Pathan 11-2-43-1, Munaf 17-4-51-3, Kumble 30-12-57-3, V.R.V. Singh 10-3-23-0, Sehwag 16.1-5-33-3, Yuvraj 1-0-1-0.

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