The Hindu : Sport : West Indies makes a big score

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Sunday, Jun 25, 2006

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West Indies makes a big score

S. Ram Mahesh

Basseterre: Interest on Saturday centred around the magnitude of the first innings score Brian Lara deemed enough. Into its third day, with only 125 of a possible 180 overs having been bowled in two days, the third Test had advanced in circadian time, but lagged behind in match time.

If Lara were to throttle a result out of the game — the West Indies was doing the running, having won the toss on a track that didn't frown on batting — he would have to make a call. With more showers forecast, the home captain, i-Pod plugged in ears, had a few factors to contend with.

Chanderpaul stranded

As it panned out, the decision was taken out of Lara's hands, with Shivnarine Chanderpaul stranded on 97 (216b, six fours, two sixes) after a Harbhajan delivery sneaked through Collymore's legs. Marlon Samuels had earlier exited for an attractive 161-ball 87 (eight fours, three sixes) in his comeback Test. The West Indies crumpled from 562 for five to 581 in under six overs.

In reply, India began well with openers Virender Sehwag and Wasim Jaffer bringing up the 50 in 8.4 overs through strokes, some scorching others memorable. But, Sehwag helped Collymore to second slip to depart before tea.

India was 64 for one at tea. Wasim Jaffer (24) and V.V.S. Laxman (2) were at the crease.

The islanders had earlier resumed on 420 for five, their tea score on Friday, courtesy heavy showers that flooded Warner Park and ruled out further play. On Saturday, overnight batsmen Chanderpaul and Samuels showed little urgency in the first half-hour. Nineteen came off six before Anil Kumble was brought on.

Utility player

Then, Chanderpaul changed character. If there is soul in the awkward left-hander's batting, it's a tortured soul. What condemns the man is he makes the bottom edge to third man — an ugly stroke — uglier.

But, beauty, whatever its merits, often bows to character and utility — and there, Chanderpaul is more than adequately endowed.

The 31-year-old also has the ability to find an aggressive gear few suspect him of having at a moment no one expects. Chanderpaul did exactly that to Kumble. After a square drive, he eased the leg-spinner over long-off for a towering six. Yuvraj Singh was hit on the head by a Chanderpaul shot.

The two blows had the following knock-on effects: Kumble lost rhythm and started straying on Samuels's pads; Dravid spread his field, putting out a couple of boundary riders despite having two close catchers; Samuels, helped by both the afore-mentioned events, found his groove.

Fluid shots

The right-hander began extending his fluid arms to strike some of the most attractive cover drives of the series (some achievement considering Lara, Laxman, and Jaffer have each struck peaches). Samuels also powered down to Kumble, and deposited him over long-on.

The 500 of the innings came up in 145.1 overs — 61 runs had been taken from 14.1 overs after the first half-hour. India's bowlers strove, but denied leg-before decisions and two bat-pad appeals that were out, they were walking an inclined treadmill to nowhere.

After a lull during which Chanderpaul crept back into his shell before lunch, Samuels came out swinging.

Harbhajan Singh was tonked for three sixes in the 164th over, the second after the food break, but the off-spinner took the last four to fall and ended with his 18th five-for: his first in six Tests since last December.

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