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 2nd innings: Tea - Day 4, Stumps - Day 4,
India 2nd innings: Lunch - Day 4,
Live Reports from previous days

MATCH REMAINS EVENLY POISED
The tall youngster pelted the ball through the off side more than once before he was forced to retire to the comfort of the pavilion. Gayle’s heart condition is well known and perhaps a fall out of that caused the circulation in his arm to give him problems. Looking good on 21, Gayle retired hurt.

Ramnaresh Srawan then played enough strokes around the park for people to wonder why the lad had not gone on to make a better score than his career-best 91 against South Africa in March, 2001. Judging the length early, Sarwan forced the ball through the off side with aplomb.

That was till Brian Lara walked out to the middle. Then things moved up more than one gear. The felicity with which Lara found the gaps made it hard for the Indians to keep the pressure up. Sure, the target was a massive one. Yet Lara seemed to understand clearly what the first step was in the task at hand. The fact that the best left-handed batsman in the world was looking for a ton at his home ground made the task harder for the Indians.

But pretty shots from Sarwan would never be enough to help West Indies chase a challenging score. After batting sensibly to get to 41 (109 balls, 5 fours), the young Guyanese middle-order bat completely failed to read a drifter from Harbhajan Singh. A tentative tickle landed in Dravid’s lap at first slip and the home team captain was out in the middle with Lara.

When bad light stopped play with more than 15 overs to be bowled, Lara was unbeaten on 40 (67 balls, 4 fours) as the hosts reached 131/2.

There’s still everything to play for. And that’s not your average end of fourth day cliché. With 182 runs still needed and a full day’s play remaining, this match is up for grabs. Whether India can stop Lara remains to be seen.

For the locals that will throng to the ground however, the fairytale can have only one ending. Their Prince – Brian Charles Lara, must make a ton and inspire a famous West Indian triumph. How then will this tale end? Check in again tomorrow, for it really is too close to call at this point.

RAIN STOPS PLAY AFTER WEST INDIES BEGIN WELL
After a brief hope of a big score, India went in to tea at 218/9. No runs were added when they came right back and Ashish Nehra was cleaned up by Merv Dillon. West Indies were set a target of 313 for victory and reached 62/1 in 20.1 overs when rain came down and stopped play.

The West Indian batsmen had enough of a task on their hands, chasing a three-hundred plus score on a wicket that is fast crumbling. India, reaching West Indies with the hope that this was their best chance for a series win outside the subcontinent, went after the batting with full force.

Javagal Srinath, India’s best bowler so far this Test, peppered openers Chris Gayle and Stuart Williams with a series of deliveries that were well pitched up and threatened to swing. All with no luck till Williams (13) fended one ball to Rahul Dravid at slip, completing a dismal comeback to the West Indian team.

Gayle, in keeping with his character, spanked a couple of deliveries to the fence in cracking fashion. The full face of the bat and a classic Caribbean flow sent the ball racing to the fence. Unbeaten on 21, the southpaw has been the mainstay of the innings so far.

Ramnaresh Sarwan coming in at one drop is the kind of character that can trouble the bowling with his no-nonsense approach. An elegant stroker of the ball, Sarwan struck a perfect square-cut off Harbhajan Singh on the way to 17 not out.

GANGULY REMAINS UNBEATEN AS INDIAN WICKETS TUMBLE
It was the kind of session that gave punters no indications. India could not push the advantage as much as pundits would have liked. At the same time, West Indies could not wrap up the Indian innings soon enough for their comfort. At the end of the first session on the fourth day, India were 218/9, with a lead of 312.

The day began with Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman putting together a meaningful partnership. With flicks off the toes and pulls that rang true, Laxman made a mighty 74 (157 balls, 9 fours) before chopping one from Merv Dillon back onto his stumps. That’s what the new ball did for West Indies.

Ajay Ratra, who made a duck in his first innings, managed to score a couple of runs before being trapped in front by Cameron Cuffy. Off the very next ball Harbhajan Singh tickled an outswinger to the safe hands of Chris Gayle at first slip.

On a hat trick and on song, Cuffy saw Javagal Srinath negotiate four balls before popping a Dillon delivery towards the slip cordon. Stuart Williams took a good diving catch and the stands came alive.

Zaheer Khan, known to strike a few telling blows, was involved in a horrible mix up with the skipper and departed with 4 to his name.

When lunch was taken, Ganguly was unbeaten on 75 (221 balls, 6 fours) as India reached 218/9.

The match is truly on tenterhooks now. No one can say how it will go. Although, it must be said that India are in front, with a lead of 300 plus on a wicket that is fast deteriorating.