By T.R. Ramakrishnan,
Gros Islet (St Lucia), June 15 (IANS) West Indian skipper Brian Lara's 120 was instrumental in denying India victory in the second Test at the Beausejour Stadium on Wednesday.
West Indies started the final day at 43 for one, following on 373 behind, and needing to bat a minimum of 98 overs to save the Test. Lara's uncharacteristic knock, lasting 307 balls and more than six-and-a-half hours, in which he hit just 10 fours, ensured they did that.
His dismissal, 15 minutes before the start of the final hour's play, did create a few wobbles in the West Indies camp and India scented a whiff of victory, just as they had in the first Test in Antigua eight days ago.
But, like in that match, it was not to be and West Indies finished at 294 for 7, leaving the teams level after two drawn Tests and all to play for in the next two, at Warner Park, St Kitts (June 22-26) and Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica (June 30-July 4).
Of course, the wet weather played a big role in the match and India were denied as much by the loss of the entire fourth day as much as by Lara's epic knock.
Skipper Rahul Dravid was philosophical about that. "The fates didn't favour us," he said after the match, "but there's no point worrying about it. It's not in our control.
"What we can control is the way we can play and we did that well. We are happy with our performance over four good days of cricket.
"It was a great effort to put the pressure on them like we did. There were limited ways to get a guy out on this track. Our bowlers did very well to come close to pulling off a win in four days."
The load of taking wickets fell on Anil Kumble, the senior bowler in the side, and he toiled manfully all day, bowling 40 overs, getting the wickets of Daren Ganga, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Dwayne Bravo.
Virender Sehwag, adjudged man of the match for his magnificent 180, lent him great support on a track that had nothing for the medium-pacers, bowling 30 overs of well-controlled off-spin in which he always troubled the left-handers.
He got the vital wicket of Lara, adjudged leg before by umpire Asad Rauf - the ball may have hit him outside the line of off-stump as he tried to play on the onside - but a few times, when Lara offered pad instead of bat, he was lucky not to given out.
Munaf Patel was the pick of the medium-pacers and he did a great job both at the start -- getting rid of Ramnaresh Sarwan, just after Kumble had bagged Ganga -- and towards the end, when Dravid brought him on for a tiring Sehwag.
In his first over during the mandatory overs, the 12th, he had Denesh Ramdin in all sorts of trouble and should have had him caught by the skipper in the second slip but Dravid, going low to his left, failed to hold the chance.
Patel then tormented Ian Bradshaw in his next over before dismissing him in the following one but by that time it was too late.
It was the penultimate over of the day - India managed to squeeze in an extra two in the final hour - and new man Jerome Taylor and Ramdin (19 not out, 61 balls) played out the remaining balls safely.
Lara's innings was the key around which the West Indian defensive effort revolved. After Ganga and Sarwan fell early, he and Chanderpaul (54, 113 balls, 6 fours) put on 129 for the fourth wicket. Then Lara added 71 with Dwayne Bravo (47, 122 balls, 1 six, 7 fours).
When he got out, the West Indies were 252 for 5 and perhaps there was still time for India to go for a win. But as things turned out, he had done more than enough to ensure safety.
Lara was clearly delighted with his effort, coming as it was after a poor run in the one-dayers and three mediocre innings in the Tests.
"Today's was a momentous innings," he said later. "In some situations, you have to dig deep, show a lot of character. At no point today was I on top of the bowling. I had to tough it out ... and those are the one's you enjoy most.
"The amount of balls I faced today, I would have normally been on 250 or so. I have to learn to bat long for the benefit of the team."
In this, his third avatar as West Indies captain, Lara has repeatedly said his job is to be a leader of a young team. On Wednesday, he did just that, leading from the front.
SCOREBOARD
Day 5, Second Test, West Indies v India,
Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet ( St Lucia) June 14 (IANS)
Result: Match drawn
India (1st innings): 588 for 8 decl
West Indies (1st innings): 215
West Indies (2nd innings):
Chris Gayle c Dhoni b Pathan 2
Daren Ganga b Kumble 26
Brian Lara lbw Sehwag 120
Ramnaresh Sarwan c Dhoni b Patel 1
Shivnarine Chanderpaul c Pathan b Kumble 54
Dwayne Bravo c Yuvraj b Kumble 47
Denesh Ramdin not out 19
Ian Bradshaw lbw Patel 1
Jerome Taylor not out 0
Extras (4 lb, 15 nb, 5 pen) 24
Total (for 7 wkts, 119 overs) 294
Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-51, 3-52, 4-181, 5-252, 6-276, 7-291
Bowling:
Irfan Pathan 15-2-50-1
Munaf Patel 21-7-50-2 (4nb)
VRV Singh 11-0-39-0 (4nb)
Anil Kumble 42-10-98-3 (6nb)
Virender Sehwag 30-10-47-1 (1nb)
Pic source:razercheers