4th Test: West Indies v India at Antigua, 10-14 May 2002 Anand Vasu |
India 1st innings:
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Laxman was about as comfortable as we have seen in him in recent times. The pitch eased up considerably, the bowlers tired and the Hyderabadi stylist took full toll. In no hurry to go after the bowling, Laxman waited for the right deliveries to hit. When he did get them, there was no need to run. His bat came slicing through the air, the wrists worked their magic and the ball scurried across the turf to the fence. More than once, one boundary was quickly followed by another.
When Ratra joined Laxman at the wicket there were the initial jitters. Laxman played extremely cautiously and defensively. Then Ratra, after playing and missing at a few, unveiled some characteristic shots. Walking across the stumps and nudging the ball to the on side, slash-cutting past slip and pulling with short-arm-jabs, Ratra made his way to 38 (114 balls, 4 fours).
When tea was taken, the partnership for the 7th wicket was worth 80 runs. In the course of this association, Laxman also brought up 2000 runs in Test cricket.
This was in the minds of the West Indian skipper as he attacked with his seamers. After adding just 10 runs to the total and 4 to his own score, Ganguly played a cut straight to point, ending his innings 5 runs short of a half-century. Cameron cuffy’s tight line and length increased the pressure, cut out the run flow and invited the error from Ganguly. Unable to keep the cut down, Ganguly found Wavell Hinds at point.
Dravid, temporarily back in his shell after starting fluently, found the going less than easy on the morning of the second day. The fall of Ganguly might have played a part in unsettling Dravid. It was ultimately the nagging accuracy of the West Indian mediumpacers that did the Karnataka middle-order batsman in.
Reaching out a bit to play deliveries outside the off, Dravid looked a touch more nervous than usual. When Merv Dillon let one go just short of a length and outside the off, Dravid’s prod away from the body only resulted in an inside edge that dragged the ball back onto the stumps. Dravid made 91 (291 balls, 12 fours) and would be disappointed that he could not get to three figures.
VVS Laxman, one of the prettiest batsmen when in flow, was in good nick. Stroking the ball away as wristily as effortlessly Laxman (17 not out) prospered in the company of Anil Kumble. The latter however, after being unsettled by a Dillon bouncer fended a short one from the same bowler to leg gully. Kumble (6) was the sixth Indian wicket.
Ajay Ratra, edgy, poking, prodding but unbeaten has 12 to his name.
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Date-stamped : 12 May2002 - 18:41