1st Test: West Indies v India at Georgetown, 11-15 Apr 2002 Anand Vasu |
India 1st innings:
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A ball just short of a length skidded through, kept a touch low and Tendulkar played a pull with the bat passing well over the height of the ball. A wicket created by tight bowling, pure pressure and good old-fashioned Test cricket. Sure, there were some sparkling cover drives and effortless pulls in the course of Tendulkar’s 136-ball innings that included 13 boundaries. All India however, expect more of the little man. Especially when several others fail, or even struggle to get going.
Is such expectation fair? Perhaps not. But that’s the way it is.
Rahul Dravid remained unbeaten on a painstaking 11 off 74 balls. Slow, not completely steady in the face of some clever bowling from Nagamootoo. Yet, Dravid still remains – fighting on.
Earlier, Shiv Sunder Das looked compact and not particularly troubled by the bowling as he dabbed and nudged his way to 33. Nearing a 100-ball stay at the wicket however, Das got himself out in a manner that has frustrated his fans all through his fledgling career. Half-cutting and half-driving away from his body, Das dragged a ball back onto his stumps giving Adam Sanford his first Test wickets.
The going is now tough for India. An under-pressure VVS Laxman will have to come good if India are to post a healthy reply to the West Indian total.
The day began, however, with a delay. Wet patches in the outfield meant that play could not start on time. The impending West Indian collapse however was not delayed overly by the rain.
Sanjay Bangar, bowling his mediumpace with a more reasonable field setting on the third day picked up his first Test wicket. Alright, so it was not the greatest batsman in the world. Yet, Bangar would have been pleased as punch when he trapped Dillon in front of the stumps for a duck.
Anil Kumble, who has toiled hard without much direction or result this match, removed debutant Adam Sanford. A low full toss that appeared to be slipping down leg side that rapped the pads was enough to satisfy umpire Asoka de Silva.
A comedy of errors saw last man Cuffy be run out while Nagamootoo remained unbeaten on 15. With 501 on the board the West Indies licked their fingers, took the new ball and bowled at the Indians.
Deep Dasgupta under pressure for his substandard keeping, failed with the bat too, making it difficult for even his supporters to prop him up.
Sourav Ganguly, coming in at one drop played a pull shot that should never have been attempted. The tall Dillon extracted a bit of extra pace off the wicket and a half-hearted pull in the 7th over of the innings ballooned up to backward square leg for Nagamootoo to catch.
Adam Sanford, whose debut was much awaited bowled tidily enough without ruffling too many feathers.
A circumspect Sachin Tendulkar (18 not out) was at the crease with Shiv Sunder Das (7 in 54 balls) when India reached 41/2 at lunch on the third day.
© CricInfo
Date-stamped : 14 Apr2002 - 18:32