2nd Test: West Indies v India at Port-of-Spain, 19-23 Apr 2002 CricInfo Live Report

2nd Test: West Indies v India at Port-of-Spain, 19-23 Apr 2002
Santhosh S and Anand Vasu

West Indies 1st innings: Lunch - Day 3,
India 2nd innings: Tea - Day 3, Stumps - Day 3,
Live Reports from previous days

LAXMAN, GANGULY BOLSTER INDIA
There was nothing special about Ganguly's innings and yet the fact that he kept it simple, and managed to stay at the wicket for a length of time. True, it was not an innings of pure defiance and yet, the willingness with which he took on the short pitched stuff showed off a belligerence people are not used to seeing. Unbeaten on 48 (142 balls, 3 fours) Ganguly will be happy with his effort.

VVS Laxman, fluent as ever, remained at the wicket with 60 to his name as India reached 165/4 at the end of the third day. Laxman too, like his skipper was under fire for the fact that he had not made the big scores since his epic knock against the Australians at Kolkata. Responding with an innings that smacked of those words, 'application' and 'character' Laxman helped India quietly reach a position of strength.

With a lead of 259, this game is very interestingly poised. There's a little man called Lara, waiting to score his first hundred at his home ground who can take on anyone on his day. There's Harbhajan Singh and a wicket that is steadily deteriorating. If you're a betting man, perhaps you should just quietly walk away. This one isn't anywhere near over yet.

INDIA STRUGGLE AFTER TENDULKAR FALLS FOR A DUCK
Yet another careless swish from makeshift opener Sanjay Bangar cost him his wicket. In almost an action replay of the first innings Bangar swished Adam Sanford to the slip cordon, after doing all the hard work in getting to 16 off 62 balls. Rahul Dravid (36 runs, 62 balls, 6 fours), who looked in prime form, hitting the ball fluently, perished when things were going India’s way, caught behind down the leg side off Cameron Cuffy. And then Sachin Tendulkar was trapped lbw by Sanford for a duck. India in trouble at 77/4 at tea.

It was one of those moments that will be talked about for a long time to come. Perhaps not at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad where the fans went crazy when the little master from India was given out. There’s been enough criticism about the umpiring this series. And sadly, Asoka de Silva, normally a top umpire, provided more fuel to the already raging fires. Judging Tendulkar leg before wicket to a delivery that would have sailed well above the stumps, de Silva sparked off a bit of controversy.

They say cricket is a great leveler. One hopes that is the truth. No one wants a series to be marred by too many rain breaks or umpiring decisions. After all, what could be more exciting than a close finish to this Test match?

Sourav Ganguly, much maligned for his batting in the first Test, and his irresponsible stroke in the first innings, remained unbeaten on 17, while VVS Laxman, sho is sublime at the wicket, but never lasts too long, had 6 to his name as India reached 77/4 at tea on the third day.

WEST INDIES ALL OUT FOR 245 IN RESPONSE TO INDIA'S 339
After adding 48 runs to their overnight score, West Indies were all out for 245 in response to India’s 339 on the third day. Carl Hooper with an even 50 helped whittle down the Indian lead to 94.

Merv Dillon, keeping Hooper company managed to see off all of 35 balls before being trapped plumb in front by Ashish Nehra. Moving the ball in to the right hander quite significantly, Nehra proved to be a potent force.

After the fall of Dillon, the seventh West Indian wicket, with 201 on the board, the West Indian skipper helped the tail along. Not taking any chances, Hooper shielded Marlon Black (9 runs, 35 balls) and saw to it that the last four wickets added 65 runs. In the last 10 innings, the last four have managed just 14 per outing.

Hooper finally fell after 111 balls at the wicket for his half-century, hitting Zaheer Khan straight to the Indian captain at covers.

The West Indian innings ended when Sachin Tendulkar took a well judged running catch in the deep to pouch a skier from Adam Sanford (12).

A short period of 6 overs had to be negotiated before lunch and the Indian openers Shiv Sunder Das and Sanjay Bangar were found wanting. In just the 5th over of the day Merv Dillon trapped Das in front of the stumps for a duck. The intensity in Dillon’s face was there for all to see and Asoka de Silva responded positively to a long appeal. India were 15/1, an overall lead of 109 when lunch was taken.