Second Test: Dravid leads the way on opening day
Laxman offers supporting role as India reach 346 for five against the West Indies.
KOLKATA:
Rahul Dravid cracked a brilliant 119 to put India on course for a big total on the opening day of the second Test against the West Indies.
The 38-year-old hit two sixes and nine fours in his 36th Test hundred as the hosts reached 346 for five in their first-innings at stumps after winning the toss.
Dravid never looked in trouble in his 207-ball knock, impressing with his shot-selection during his long stay at the crease to put India in a strong position with three valuable partnerships.
He added 83 runs for the second wicket with Gautam Gambhir (65), 56 for the next with Sachin Tendulkar and 140 for the fourth wicket with VVS Laxman, who was unbeaten on 73.
He was dismissed when he inside-edged Kraigg Brathwaite’s delivery on to his stumps in the day’s penultimate over.
India lost one more wicket when night-watchman Ishant Sharma was caught behind off Kemar Roach.
Tendulkar misses out on 100th ton again
The batting maestro, who needs just one hundred to complete an unprecedented 100th international century, had been batting confidently before falling for 38.
The maestro looked in excellent form as he turned Fidel Edwards to fine-leg for his first boundary and then drove Roach through the covers for another four.
He survived a confident appeal for leg-before on 25 before being dismissed by the same bowler in the afternoon session.
Earlier, Gambhir fell to a loose shot, just after lunch for 65. Virender Sehwag (38) played some handsome shots hitting eight fours in his brisk knock before getting out.
West Indies struggled for success on a pitch which had little in it for the bowlers, with captain Darren Sammy, Edwards, Devendra Bishoo, Roach and Brathwaite each taking one wicket.
‘I’ve hit a good patch’
Dravid, although happy with his form, was disappointed at getting out just before stumps.
“I’ve hit a good patch and I’m in a good space with my game, so I’m really trying to make it count as much as I can,” said Dravid. “Cricket is a funny game and you never know when the tough time is around the corner, but as long as you have the good time going, you have to keep it going.
“Getting out in the closing overs was disappointing,” he added.
Meanwhile, West Indies coach Ottis Gibson admitted that his bowlers had found the going tough on the opening day.
“It was a tough day for us because there was nothing in the pitch for the bowlers,” he said. “But India collapsed in the first-innings of the last Test and we’re hoping something like that happens here too.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 15th, 2011.
Rahul Dravid cracked a brilliant 119 to put India on course for a big total on the opening day of the second Test against the West Indies.
The 38-year-old hit two sixes and nine fours in his 36th Test hundred as the hosts reached 346 for five in their first-innings at stumps after winning the toss.
Dravid never looked in trouble in his 207-ball knock, impressing with his shot-selection during his long stay at the crease to put India in a strong position with three valuable partnerships.
He added 83 runs for the second wicket with Gautam Gambhir (65), 56 for the next with Sachin Tendulkar and 140 for the fourth wicket with VVS Laxman, who was unbeaten on 73.
He was dismissed when he inside-edged Kraigg Brathwaite’s delivery on to his stumps in the day’s penultimate over.
India lost one more wicket when night-watchman Ishant Sharma was caught behind off Kemar Roach.
Tendulkar misses out on 100th ton again
The batting maestro, who needs just one hundred to complete an unprecedented 100th international century, had been batting confidently before falling for 38.
The maestro looked in excellent form as he turned Fidel Edwards to fine-leg for his first boundary and then drove Roach through the covers for another four.
He survived a confident appeal for leg-before on 25 before being dismissed by the same bowler in the afternoon session.
Earlier, Gambhir fell to a loose shot, just after lunch for 65. Virender Sehwag (38) played some handsome shots hitting eight fours in his brisk knock before getting out.
West Indies struggled for success on a pitch which had little in it for the bowlers, with captain Darren Sammy, Edwards, Devendra Bishoo, Roach and Brathwaite each taking one wicket.
‘I’ve hit a good patch’
Dravid, although happy with his form, was disappointed at getting out just before stumps.
“I’ve hit a good patch and I’m in a good space with my game, so I’m really trying to make it count as much as I can,” said Dravid. “Cricket is a funny game and you never know when the tough time is around the corner, but as long as you have the good time going, you have to keep it going.
“Getting out in the closing overs was disappointing,” he added.
Meanwhile, West Indies coach Ottis Gibson admitted that his bowlers had found the going tough on the opening day.
“It was a tough day for us because there was nothing in the pitch for the bowlers,” he said. “But India collapsed in the first-innings of the last Test and we’re hoping something like that happens here too.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 15th, 2011.