4th Test: West Indies v India at Antigua, 10-14 May 2002 Anand Vasu |
West Indies 1st innings:
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It was a session of hard toil for the Indians. Wicketless, without hope and full of runs. Why Sourav Ganguly even resorted to asking Zaheer Khan to bowl left-arm spin. Such was the domination of the Guyanese pair who have already posted two 200-plus partnerships in this series.
Today, it has been just 144 runs that the pair has added. You can be sure that wont be the end.
Chanderpaul, making full use of every loose ball thrown up, and there were a few, with part-time bowlers operating, reached 61 (166 balls, 10 fours). He’s not the most glamorous of batsmen. He’s not the man the crowds come to watch yet he’s the one that bolsters the West Indies more often than not.
The follow-on has been avoided. And in all reality, that means a result in this match has been avoided.
There’s much talk of Hooper’s luck. It’s true that there were three occasions when Hooper could so easily have been dismissed on the third day. One very close shout for lbw, caught off a no-ball and half a chance at slip all went abegging. There’s been as much talk about Anil Kumble as well. After his shock appearance to take the wicket of Lara, there was talk of his continuing in this match. Taking the flight out back to India, Kumble will play no further part in this match.
Even luck though is not enough to carry a batsman. It needs the sweet shots, the calm composure, the calculated risk taking that Hooper brought to the table. Starting the day off with two slashed boundaries through third man, Hooper went on to play a delectable cover drive off Sachin Tendulkar that sailed over the cover-point fence. From then on there was no stopping Hooper.
Even the wicket of the well set Ramnaresh Sarwan did not deter the West Indian captain. After playing solidly for a half-century, Sarwan added just one to his overnight score before being trapped lbw for 51 by a full delivery from Zaheer Khan.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul (28 not out, 79 balls, 4 fours) joined Hooper and the pair tormented India once more. Adding 70 for the fifth wicket the duo took West Indies closer to the follow-on mark.
© CricInfo
Date-stamped : 14 May2002 - 18:39