First Test: Tendulkar guides India to victory
Maestro misses out on 100th international ton as West Indies lose by five wickets.
NEW DEHLI:
Sachin Tendulkar missed out on an unprecedented 100th international century before India raced to a comfortable five-wicket win over the West Indies in the opening Test.
The master batsman scored a solid 76 and VVS Laxman made a stylish 58 not out as India achieved a 276-run victory target on a low, slow pitch on the penultimate day for a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series.
Laxman finished the match 32 minutes after the lunch break when he turned part-timer Kraigg Brathwaite to square-leg for a single. India added 124 runs to their overnight total of 152 for two for the loss of three wickets.
Debutant off-spinner Ashwin was named man of the match for taking nine wickets in the Test while left-arm spinner Ojha took seven wickets.
Tendulkar was dismissed against the run of play, trapped leg-before by leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo while attempting to pull in the second hour of the morning session.
Tendulkar, Laxman shine
Tendulkar, who became the first batsman to complete 15,000 Test runs on Tuesday, put India on course for victory when he added 67 runs for the third wicket with Rahul Dravid (31) and 71 for the next with Laxman. Tendulkar started confidently, turning Sammy to fine-leg for a four in the opening over of the day and then cover-driving and cutting the same bowler for two boundaries in an over.
He soon reached his 62nd Test half-century with a single to third-man off Edwards and continued to play attractive shots.
Laxman was also quick to punish loose deliveries, scoring runs comfortably against both pace and spin. The stylish batsman executed some handsome, wristy shots during his 105-ball knock, containing six fours.
The West Indies’ hopes of putting pressure on India rested on taking early wickets, but they grabbed just one in the morning session when fast-bowler Fidel Edwards bowled Dravid.
Dhoni praises Ashwin, Ojha
India captain MS Dhoni admitted his team did not start the match well.
“We conceded a big lead and didn’t bat the way we should have,” said Dhoni.
“However, Ojha bowled well and Ashwin had variation and was supported by the other bowlers.”
West Indies captain Darren Sammy rued the missed opportunity of outplaying the hosts.
“When you play against a top team you want to create the opportunity to win,” said Sammy. “We did that in the first-innings but didn’t bat well in the second.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 10th, 2011.
Sachin Tendulkar missed out on an unprecedented 100th international century before India raced to a comfortable five-wicket win over the West Indies in the opening Test.
The master batsman scored a solid 76 and VVS Laxman made a stylish 58 not out as India achieved a 276-run victory target on a low, slow pitch on the penultimate day for a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series.
Laxman finished the match 32 minutes after the lunch break when he turned part-timer Kraigg Brathwaite to square-leg for a single. India added 124 runs to their overnight total of 152 for two for the loss of three wickets.
Debutant off-spinner Ashwin was named man of the match for taking nine wickets in the Test while left-arm spinner Ojha took seven wickets.
Tendulkar was dismissed against the run of play, trapped leg-before by leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo while attempting to pull in the second hour of the morning session.
Tendulkar, Laxman shine
Tendulkar, who became the first batsman to complete 15,000 Test runs on Tuesday, put India on course for victory when he added 67 runs for the third wicket with Rahul Dravid (31) and 71 for the next with Laxman. Tendulkar started confidently, turning Sammy to fine-leg for a four in the opening over of the day and then cover-driving and cutting the same bowler for two boundaries in an over.
He soon reached his 62nd Test half-century with a single to third-man off Edwards and continued to play attractive shots.
Laxman was also quick to punish loose deliveries, scoring runs comfortably against both pace and spin. The stylish batsman executed some handsome, wristy shots during his 105-ball knock, containing six fours.
The West Indies’ hopes of putting pressure on India rested on taking early wickets, but they grabbed just one in the morning session when fast-bowler Fidel Edwards bowled Dravid.
Dhoni praises Ashwin, Ojha
India captain MS Dhoni admitted his team did not start the match well.
“We conceded a big lead and didn’t bat the way we should have,” said Dhoni.
“However, Ojha bowled well and Ashwin had variation and was supported by the other bowlers.”
West Indies captain Darren Sammy rued the missed opportunity of outplaying the hosts.
“When you play against a top team you want to create the opportunity to win,” said Sammy. “We did that in the first-innings but didn’t bat well in the second.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 10th, 2011.