4th Test: West Indies v India at Antigua, 10-14 May 2002 Anand Vasu |
West Indies 1st innings:
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The West Indian openers began well enough, seeing off the new ball. There was almost no movement off the wicket or in the air. Javagal Srinath and Ashish Nehra shared the new ball but could not trouble the batsmen.
Zaheer Khan, with his extra pace and awkward angle got a couple of deliveries to jump. This was not yet cause for concern however, as Hinds and Gayle drove fluently through both off and on side.
The first real chance for the visitors came in the 24th over of the day. Gayle, moving across his stumps and flicking a full delivery found Shiv Sunder Das at square leg. The fielder however reacted a touch late and floored the catch.
Fortunately for the Indians Gayle did not make them pay for their mistake. Without adding another run to his tally of 32, Gayle nicked Zaheer Khan through to the keeper soon after.
Sarwan replaced Gayle out in the middle and the ball was beginning to lose its shine by this stage. India were prompted to bring Sourav Ganguly and Tendulkar into the attack and this helped the overs roll along. Tendulkar in particular infused some interest into the proceedings with leg-breaks and googlies that turned prodigiously. The wrong ‘uns in particular troubled the left-handed Hinds more than once.
As it turned out though, Hinds (48 not out) and Sarwan (5 not out) took West Indies safely through to tea.
Ratra, increasingly under pressure for not making runs, watched in dismay as Laxman became the seventh Indian wicket to fall. After making 130 (244 balls, 14 fours) Laxman played back to a short ball from Merv Dillon and trod on his wicket. An unusual dismissal but one that West Indies would take on a flat wicket.
Zaheer Khan (4) then hung around long enough to see Ratra reach three figures. It did not come easily, but when it did, the joy was unbridled. The whole Indian team stood on the balcony clapping and cheering as Ratra became the first Indian ‘keeper to score a Test century overseas. This is of course overlooking Vijay Manjrekar’s similar achivement, as he was not really a specialist keeper.
The effort took India to a substantial total. And when the declaration came, after Javagal Srinath made 15 and was dismissed, Ratra was unbeaten on 115 (282 balls, 12 fours). India’s 513/9 declared had all but put paid to any chances of a result in this game.
In response, the West Indian openers negotiated seven overs before lunch reaching 17 for no loss. Chris Gayle (7 not out) and Wavell Hinds (9 not out) will be looking to make big scores on this flat wicket. The only possible threat, Kumble, has all been ruled out with injury.
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Date-stamped : 13 May2002 - 18:47