VVS Laxman has been a picture of confidence and strength all series. Despite going on to make only one big score, his contribution to every innings has been substantial. Top scoring with an unbeaten 65 (152 balls, 7 fours) Laxman stood tall even as the last Indian wicket fell.

Going for a non existent single, Nehra (0) was found short of his crease by a direct hit from Ramnaresh Sarwan.

The fact that West Indies chose not to enforce the follow-on did not come as a huge surprise. The bowlers needed some rest and there was still plenty of time in the game.

But then, the hosts would never have anticipated the events that followed. Wavell Hinds, who batted tremendously for a century in the first innings, was completely undone by a spell of good bowling by Javagal Srinath. Although nowhere near his quickest, Srinath seemed to find a good rhythm, teasing the batsmen just outside the off stump. Hinds (6) could not resist forever and one such prod saw him edge the ball to Laxman at second slip.

Gayle (15), after hammering one ball through covers, followed in Hinds’ footsteps. Playing away from the body, the second West Indian opener fell to Srinath. Ganguly, the catcher at gully, could not believe his eyes as West Indies slumped to 24/2.

Sarwan, coming in at one drop began positively, finding the gaps well and stroking the ball past the infield. Perhaps it was this confidence that caused his downfall as well. Driving far away from his body, foot not quite to the pitch of the ball, Sarwan hit Zaheer Khan to a diving Shiv Sunder Das at cover. Making amends for earlier gaffes, Das took a good low catch, sending Sarwan (12) packing.

Brian Lara then came out to bat for the last time this series. A shadow of his old self, Lara (24) remained unbeaten even as yet another West Indian wicket fell. Carl Hooper (6), in the best form of his career, dabbed a Zaheer Khan delivery through to wicketkeeper Ajay Ratra and West Indies were in a spot of bother at 60/4. Shivnarine Chanderpaul fresh at the wicket saw to it that West Indies lost no further wickets, taking West Indies through to tea at 65/4.

Things began quite well for the visitors. A determined Sourav Ganguly and comfortable Laxman looked in no trouble at all. The West Indies seamers stuck to their task, plugged away at a good length on a wicket that helped the bowlers just enough. Eventually, one ball did enough to account for Ganguly. Fending at a ball just outside the off, Ganguly edged the ball through to ‘keeper Ridley Jacobs.

Jacobs has hardly missed anything all series and this was no exception. Ganguly (36 runs, 72 balls, 6 fours) became Merv Dillon’s first wicket of the day. Pumped up and energised by the wicket, Dillon improved as the overs rolled by.

Ajay Ratra (3) could not repeat his century performance from earlier in the series and parried a short ball from Dillon to Wavell Hinds at forward short leg.

The same pair was back in business soon after, in much more dramatic fashion. Harbhajan Singh (4), given the same treatment managed to knock the ball just wide of forward short leg. Diving full length and to his right, Hinds snapped the ball up inches from the ground. Deservedly, Dillon had five wickets.

Zaheer Khan, who replaced Harbhajan Singh, showed very little application in his brief stay at the wicket. Despite Laxman’s continued exhortations to just play sensibly Zaheer Khan (6) attempted wild swipes. The third such heave resulted in a top edge that Brian Lara caught comfortably at point.

Javagal Srinath, a handy batsman many years ago, has become a bit of a rabbit with the bat in recent years. Constantly running away towards square leg against the seamers, Srinath (2) managed only an awkward dab to Chris Gayle at slip.

India were precariously poised at 207/9 when lunch was taken. Ashish Nehra unbeaten on 0 kept Laxman (62 batting, 133 balls, 7 fours) company. Whether the follow on will be enforced or not, if West Indies bowl out India for less than 222 remains to be seen. Either way, India have a long, hard road ahead of them.