Dravid rides his luck to give India upper hand against West Indies

Former captain dropped on six as tourists gain 164-run lead.

KINGSTON:

Rahul Dravid survived an early chance and batted doggedly, giving India the upper hand in the first Test against West Indies. The former India captain had reached 45, as India reached 91 for three in their second innings – an overall lead of 164 – at the close on the second day of the first Test.

Fortune smiled on Dravid when he was on six as West Indies captain Darren Sammy dropped him off fast-bowler Ravi Rampaul. The right-handed batsman kept his nerve offering little chance for the remainder of the day.

Opener Murali Vijay fell early trapped lbw while Mukund was caught behind for 25, top edging a cut off Devendra Bishoo. Next over, Sammy held a return catch to dismiss VVS Laxman, leaving India 57 for three.

Earlier in the first session of the day, Sharma gave the tourists an early breakthrough, after West Indies continued from their overnight total of 34 for one. He trapped Ramnaresh Sarwan lbw for three but India were met with resistance in the shape of a 56-run stand for the third wicket between Barath and Darren Bravo.

Kumar soon had Barath caught behind, playing defensively to a well-pitched delivery that moved away. In his next over, Kumar also had Bravo caught behind for 18, playing defensively forward, before another left-hander Brendan Nash was caught at third slip for one, leaving West Indies wobbling on 102 for five.

After lunch, Harbhajan Singh came into his own after West Indies continued from their lunch total of 119 for five. He triggered a collapse that sent the hosts crumbling to 152 for eight in the first hour after the interval. He had Carlton Baugh Jr caught at silly point.

Sharma stepped in to have Sammy bowled for one, and Harbhajan had Chanderpaul caught at forward short leg for 23, the home team losing three for five in the space of 24 balls.

Edwards joined Rampaul, and prolonged the agony before Amit Mishra quickly took both his and Bishoo’s wickets to end the West Indies’ innings.

Mishra fined for dissent

India’s Amit Mishra was fined 10 per cent of his match fee for “showing dissent at an umpire’s decision” during the ongoing first Test against the West Indies in Jamaica. After close of play on the second day, Mishra accepted the proposed sanction by match referee Jeff Crowe, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a statement. “On being given out caught behind the wicket, Amit stood his ground for a lengthy period of time and while doing so gestured to his arm-guard until finally he left the crease,” said Crowe. “Whether it is just disappointment, it’s still disrespectful and, as the code clearly states, unacceptable.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd,  2011.