Bravo digs in for West Indies, frustrates India

India almost lost hope for a victory when Bravo and Carlton Baugh (46*) added 69 for the seventh wicket.

BRIDGETOWN:

Another incisive spell from Ishant Sharma was upstaged by resilient West Indies batting, led by Darren Bravo, as India settled for a draw in the second Test.

Man-of-the-match Sharma captured four for 53, finishing with match figures of 10 for 98, as the West Indies, chasing 281 for victory, ended on 202 for seven in their second-innings when bad light stopped play.

India’s hopes of clinching the series in the second Test  were almost derailed as Bravo, whose 73 was the top-score, and Carlton Baugh (46*) added 69 for the seventh wicket.

But rain, which had dogged the Test over the first four days, returned to ruin an exciting finish just when it appeared that India were on the back foot.

“We believe we had a chance of getting the target,” said West Indies captain Darren Sammy.

“The coach outlined the game in stages and with 15 overs remaining, we were on course. We lost more wickets than we had anticipated, but we we could’ve won it.”

The result meant India held on to a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, after they won the first Test by 63 runs.

“It was going to be a difficult target to achieve if you’re going to get 281 in 80-odd overs,” said India skipper MS Dhoni.

“The outfield was slow, so we thought it was a good target. I think it was the right decision because you never knew how much rain you may get during the course of the day.

“We felt there were enough overs to get them out.”

The rain came at the right moment for India and interrupted the West Indies’ flow, stopping play for half an hour with the hosts needing 102 from the final 18.3 overs, after Baugh and Bravo started to blossom.

India pay for slow over-rate

India have been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during the second Test, said the International Cricket Council (ICC). India were three overs short of their target after considering time allowances, the ICC said in a statement. The Indian players were fined 30 per cent of their match fees while captain MS Dhoni was docked 60 per cent as per ICC regulations. No further hearing was required as India accepted the penalties without contest, the statement added.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2011.