Sharma’s five-for troubles West Indies

India’s Harbhajan reaches 400 wickets, rain mars final Test .

ROSEAU:

Harbhajan Singh became the 11th bowler in history to capture 400 Test wickets while Ishant Sharma again bowled impressively in the rain-lashed third Test between West Indies and India in Dominica.

The tourists were eight without loss, replying to West Indies’ first-innings total of 204, when a combination of rain and bad light stopped play early on the second day at Windsor Park, where only 49.2 over were possible.

Out of the statutory 180 overs that should have been bowled over the first two days, only 80.3 have been completed, as typically seasonal weather has ravaged the Dominica capital, hosting a Test for the first time.

The perfect combination

Sharma, the most successful of all the bowlers in the series, upstaged Harbhajan, taking five for 77 from 21.3 overs.

His success, followed up his 6-55 in the first innings of the drawn second Test at  Bridgetown, taking his tally in the three-Test series to 21 wickets at 14.04 apiece.

Harbhajan, playing his 96th Test for the Indians, had Sammy caught at forward short-leg for 20, and then reached his landmark, when Baugh, whose innings contained six fours and one six from 79 balls, made room to cut, played over the top of the delivery, and had his stumps shattered.

Sharma then returned to wrap up the tail, removing Fidel Edwards for three and Devendra Bishoo for a duck in successive overs.

Only Anil Kumble with his 619 wickets and Kapil Dev (434) have taken more wickets for India than Harbhajan.

He is also the fourth spin bowler to take 400 wickets in Tests, following in the footsteps of Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka, who is the world’s leading wicket-taker with 800, Australia’s Shane Warne (708) and Kumble.

Harbhajan finished with two wickets for 26 from 15 overs, and Praveen Kumar took another two wickets for  his 22 from 16 overs.

India well poised to make history

India hold a 1-0 lead in the three Test series following a 63-run victory inside four days in Jamaica and a draw in the second match at Kensington Oval in Barbados. The tourists look to make history as they eagerly seek their first ever Test victory in the Carribean.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 9^th, 2011.