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Battle-scarred Dravid holds the Indian innings together

S. Dinakar

Leg-spinner Bishoo strikes crucial blows before the afternoon break

- PHOTO: AP

ROCK SOLID:Rahul Dravid's commitment and fierce focus were on view in India's second innings.

Kingston (Jamaica): It was on June 22, 1996, that Rahul Dravid walked out to bat for the first time in a Test. The venue was the hallowed Lord's. A composed innings of 95 against a probing English attack underlined his temperament and innings-building skills.

Fifteen years and several milestones later, the battle-scarred Dravid still relishes the smell of a combat in Test match cricket. The stage continues to inspire him.

The technically accomplished Dravid's commitment and fierce focus has been on view in the engrossing first Digicel Test at the Sabina Park. On a difficult surface of inconsistent bounce, Dravid's unbeaten 69 held the Indian second innings together.

At lunch on day three, India, leading by 73 in the first innings, was 166 for six. Leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo struck a crucial blow for the West Indies before the afternoon break when he had Mahendra Singh Dhoni — the India captain failed to get on top of the ball as he attempted to cut a leg-break — caught at point.

Dravid battled hard at the other end. He kept down the deliveries that climbed into him with exceptional purity of technique. He was, however, was fortunate on six when he was grassed at second slip by Darren Sammy after being probed in the corridor by paceman Ravi Rampaul. The experienced campaigner made the West Indies pay for the lapse.

The steely Dravid, his body and mind in harmony, settled down. The experienced batsman's front-footed cover-drive off Rampaul was a gorgeous stroke. Dravid's square-cut off the impressive Bishoo sped to the fence.

Dravid reached a well-deserved half-century with a cut off the lion-hearted Ravi Rampaul; the paceman sent down a tireless spell of 9-1-18-0 in the first session.

Captivating morning

The West Indies pushed relentlessly for a breakthrough on a captivating third morning. Fidel Edwards continued to torment Virat Kohli, looking vulnerable against short-pitched stuff, with lifting deliveries.

Eventually, Kohli gloved one aimed into his rib-cage from Edwards to 'keeper Baugh down the leg-side. The right-hander had been given a torrid time by a scorching spell of short-pitched bowling from Edwards late on day two. Kohli was struck on the body once, was almost picked up at short-leg and all but played on when Edwards unleashed a fuller length delivery.

Suresh Raina appeared solid, ducking under the short-pitched deliveries, and meeting the length balls with the full face of his bat. His straight push-drive off Edwards reflected his mind-set.

The left-hander looked good for more when he was adjudged caught at leg-slip off Bishoo on the sweep. Replays showed the ball had not made contact with either the bat or the glove.

India was rocked at the start when Murali Vijay was trapped in front by a grubber from Ravi Rampaul. The delivery highlighted the unpredictable nature of the surface.

The other opener, Abhinav Mukund, made a strong impression with his sound back-foot play and the manner in which he left deliveries outside the off-stump.

Mukund has a relaxed stance and a still head. He got behind the line in a manner that was reassuring, was unruffled by the short-pitched stuff from the quicks.

Mukund's square-drive off Rampaul was a top shot. So was his impeccable straight-drive off Edwards.

But then, he wasted a start by attempting to cut a faster one from Bishoo that held its line. 'Keeper Baugh pouched a fine catch.

V.V.S. Laxman did not last long; his mistimed flick off the accurate Sammy was held alertly by the bowler.

Hit-the-deck method

Earlier, swing bowler Praveen Kumar and Ishant Sharma with his hit-the-deck methods shared six wickets between them as the West Indies was bundled out for 173 in its first innings on day two.

The Indian attack had been reduced to three specialist bowlers after Praveen received his third official warning soon after lunch for running on to the danger area. Praveen, though, will be able to bowl in the second innings.

Harbhajan Singh operated to a teasing off-stump line after lunch. Drift and spin were on view as the ball struck the strokeful Baugh's pad and then bat before it was held at silly point.

Skipper Sammy played over an Ishant delivery that was angled into him. The lanky paceman was impressive. Chanderpaul collected runs in typical fashion with nudges and pushes.

Harbhajan nailed the southpaw with extra bounce from round the wicket. Leggie Amit Mishra made short work of the tail. India had seized the initiative.

India — 1st innings: 246.

West Indies — 1st innings: A. Barath c Dhoni b Praveen 64 (122b, 9x4, 1x6), L. Simmons c Vijay b Ishant 3 (23b), R. Sarwan lbw b Ishant 3 (30b), D. Bravo c Dhoni b Praveen 18 (56b, 2x4), S. Chanderpaul c Mukund b Harbhajan 23 (74b, 2x4), B. Nash c Raina b Praveen 1 (11b), C. Baugh c Vijay b Harbhajan 27 (35b, 2x4, 1x6), D. Sammy b Ishant 1 (11b), R. Rampaul (not out) 14 (19b, 2x4), F. Edwards c Dhoni b Mishra 7 (28b, 1x4), D. Bishoo c Raina b Mishra 4 (2b, 1x4); Extras (b-1, lb-3, nb-4): 8; Total (in 67.5 overs): 173.

Fall of wickets: 1-18 (Simmons), 2-35 (Sarwan), 3-91 (Barath), 4-95 (Bravo), 5-102 (Nash), 6-147 (Baugh), 7-148 (Sammy), 8-152 (Chanderpaul), 9-169 (Edwards).

India bowling: Praveen 18-5-38-3, Ishant 17-6-29-3, Mishra 13.5-1-51-2, Harbhajan 19-5-51-2.

India — 2nd innings: Abhinav c Baugh b Bishoo 25 ( 75b, 3x4), M. Vijay lbw Rampaul 0 ( 2b), R. Dravid (batting) 69 ( 203b, 8x4), V.V.S. Laxman c & b Sammy 0 ( 5b), V. Kohli c Baugh b Edwards 15 ( 54b, 2x4), S. Raina c Sammy b Bishoo 27 ( 53b, 3x4), M.S. Dhoni c Edwards b Bishoo 16 ( 16b, 1x4, 1x6), Extras (b-8, nb-6) 14, Total (for six wkts in 67 overs at lunch) 166.

Fall of wkts: 1-0 (Vijay), 2-56 (Mukund), 3-57 (Laxman), 4-100 (Kohli), 5-148 (Raina), 6-166 (Dhoni).

West Indies bowling: Edwards 13-1-40-1, Rampaul 17-3-35-1, Sammy 20-8-36-1, Bishoo 16-2-41-3, Nash 1-0-6-0 .

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