3rd Test: West Indies v India at Barbados, 2-6 May 2002 CricInfo Live Report

3rd Test: West Indies v India at Barbados, 2-6 May 2002
Anand Vasu

West Indies 1st innings: Lunch - Day 3,
India 2nd innings: Tea - Day 3, Stumps - Day 3,
Live Reports from previous days

INDIA IN DEEP TROUBLE
As is so often the case, the final session of the day proved to be the hardest to bat out. After tea, India went from 80/1 to 169/4. Barring major miracles, this match is now well and truly in West Indies’ lap. With two days to play, India trail by 123 with 6 second innings wickets in hand.

In the final session, 41 overs were bowled, 89 runs scored and three crucial wickets lost.

After tea, it was Shiv Sunder Das who fell first. Although not terribly convincing at the wicket, Das battled it out to see off 138 balls for his 35 before a hard flick to the onside found Sarwan. Fielding close, Sarwan grabbed the chance, a sharp one.

The fall of Das’ wicket brought Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar together. The partnership did not last as long as India would have liked. In the 48th over of the innings Dravid (14) nicked Sanford through to Jacobs behind the stumps.

And then came the big wicket of the day. Merv Dillon bowling wicket to wicket got Tendulkar to play down the wrong line to a delivery slanting in, the appeal was spontaneous and umpire Asoka de Silva upheld the appeal. Tendulkar was gone for just 8. Replays suggested the ball might have sailed over the stumps. Tendulkar will certainly consider himself a touch unlucky.

Laxman knows these positions where India is in deep trouble. It is after all in such a state that he made a name for himself with his epic 281 against Australia. The same Laxman however, is too much of a stroke player to be rock solid. Driving and pushing away from his body, Laxman tends to give the bowlers a chance.

The Hyderabadi stylist was once caught behind off the bowling of Pedro Collins. Fortunately for Laxman no-ball was called and he batted through to stumps with 30 against his name. Ganguly, finding the going tough under constantly fading light was on 15 when bad light was offered and the players left the field.

INDIA LOSE JAFFER BEFORE TEA
A sincere lad of humble beginnings is Wasim Jaffer. And one is always glad to see someone like that doing well. Looking completely the part as an opener, Jaffer partnered a nervous Das well as India reached 80/1 at tea on the third day.

A West Indian lead of 312 was always going to be daunting. India needed a good start and Jaffer seemed to realise that. The Mumbai opener put his head down and played the bowling on its merit. There weren’t too many loose balls on offer, but Jaffer made every single one that came his way count.

Standing tall and driving well off the back foot, Das concentrated on the cover-point region. Although not attempting to thrash the ball, Jaffer had the touch and timing to beat the fence with ease. Pedro Collins came in for severe treatment, his bowling ideal for Jaffer to thump away. Short of a length and outside the off, going away with the arm, the angle and pace was ideal for Jaffer to score off. The fact that the offside field was packed did nothing to deter Jaffer.

In the 23rd over of the innings however there was a flutter. A fierce chop from Jaffer went straight towards Ramnaresh Sarwan at cover. The lad dived forward and collected the ball. Unsure, umpire Asoka de Silva referred the matter to the third umpire. After seeing several angles, Billy Doctrove was unable to say for sure that Sarwan had caught it cleanly. The batsman was, rightly, given the benefit of doubt.

Soon after however, against the grain of play, Jaffer fell. Das tapped a Cuffy delivery slowly towards point and set off for a quick single. Chanderpaul swooped in, scored a direct hit underarm and Jaffer (51, 75 balls, 10 fours) was short of his crease.

Not quite comfortable but still around, Das had 27 to his name at tea.

INDIA FACE UPHILL STRUGGLE
It was a typical West Indian lower order performance. Carl Hooper (115) blazed a flamboyant trail, scoring two centuries in a series for the first time in his career. The workmanlike Shivnarine Chanderpaul (101 not out) chipped in and the tail collapsed spectacularly. The last 6 wickets fell for 18 runs, ending the West Indian innings on 394, a lead of 292.

India are truly looking down the barrel at lunch on the third day. Resuming in their seventies, both Chanderpaul and Hooper marched on to centuries. Talented and yet never quite doing justice, Hooper was a different man on the day. Confidence personified, the West Indian skipper thrashed the bowling to all parts, scoring boundaries at will before one hoick took the edge. Tendulkar got under a steepler and Hooper’s 115 (235 balls, 18 boundaries) came to an end.

Ridley Jacobs, into the team to bolster the batting, fell for a duck, edging Nehra through to the keeper.

Merv Dillon made 6 before a short pitched ball from Nehra proved to be too hot to handle. Fending the ball away, Dillon played found Das under the helmet on the leg side.

Pedro Collins and Adam Sanford both perished for ducks to Harbhajan Singh and a comedy of errors saw last man Cameron Cuffy run out.

Chanderpaul was left high and dry on 101 (231 balls, 13 boundaries) as West Indies ended with a healthy lead of 292.

In the short period to be negotiated before lunch, Wasim Jaffer and Shiv Sunder Das took India safely to 7 for no loss from 3 overs.