THANKS to half-centuries from their two experienced batmen VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid, India were able to cement their hold in the second Digicel Test match against the West Indies at the Kensington Oval in Barbados yesterday.
Resuming on their overnight score of 23 for 1, India ended the penultimate day on 229 for 3 thanks to Dravid’s 55 and Laxman’s unbeaten 72, against the bowling of Fidel Edwards who has so far taken 2-58 for the home team, as India head into the final day today, with a lead of 240 runs with seven wickets in hand with Virat Kohli on 26.
When play got under way at 10:50hrs, following an early morning rain interruption for the fourth successive day, Ravi Rampaul struck in the third over when he induced Murali Vijay to edge one through to wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh.
Scores in the match so far, India 201 and 229 for 3, West Indies 190
Dravid replaced Vijay and got off the mark when he got a thick outside edge between the slips and gully to third man for four off Rampaul, while Abhinav Mukund steered the same bowler past Marlon Samuels at gully for another four.
Controversy reigned following a claimed catch taken by Adrian Barath off Dravid who pulled at one from Darren Sammy, with the television replays being inconclusive, the batsman responded by driving the final ball through mid off for four to raise India’s 50 in the 17th over.
Further, to rub salt into the wounds – Dravid was given not out – Mukund leaned into an over-pitched delivery from Sammy and sent it crashing to the extra cover boundary for his third four.
At the lunch interval, India who had an 11-run first innings advantage over the home team, coupled with their one-nil series lead were 62 for 1 with Mukund on 27 and Dravid 18, enjoying a lead of 73 runs in overcast conditions.
Play got under way 10 minutes after the scheduled time after lunch due to rain and after a watchful start, with both Rampaul and Edwards extracting extra bounce out of the pitch, Mukund cut Rampaul to the point boundary for the first four in the afternoon session.
The West Indies removed Mukund courtesy of a Baugh catch taken off a short delivery from Edwards, one of many sent down by himself and Rampaul, at 89 for 2 in the 31st over, with the Indian batsman falling two short of his maiden Test half-century.
His 48 was decorated with six fours while he batted for 153 minutes, faced 81 balls while adding 63 for the second wicket with Dravid, who was on 21 when VVS Laxman joined him at the wicket, with India enjoying a lead of 100 runs midway the post-lunch session.
At the end of the first hour’s play after lunch, India were 100 for 2 off 35 overs, reaching their 100 from 34.2 overs with Dravid and Laxman on 25 and 7 respectively, adding 38 runs from the 14 overs bowled by the home team, with Mukund being the lone casualty.
The leg-spin of Devendra Bishoo was introduced on the resumption of play, while Edwards continued to beat the edges of the Indian batsmen on a pitch that was offering lots of bounce and pace, even though it was the fourth day of the match.
At tea, India were 143 for 2 from 56 overs, with Dravid on 48 and Laxman 26, the two adding an unbroken 54 runs for the third wicket to date, while their team added 81 runs during the session from the 35 overs sent down by the West Indies.
Dravid’s nickname is ‘The Wall’ and after tea, he displayed the true meaning of same, as he stood firm against the Windies pace/spin attack to register his 60th Test half-century, doing so while batting for 205 minutes facing 157 deliveries and striking three fours.
The West Indies must have been glad to see the back of Dravid, who was caught by Ramnaresh Sarwan at second slip for 55, when he looked to run his 171st ball which was a short one from Edwards, to third man after batting for 221 minutes.
He added 65 for the third wicket from 30 overs with Laxman who was joined by Kohli who began his second innings on a pair and avoided same when he pulled a short delivery from Edwards over midwicket for six, after playing the previous one away from the waiting hands of Barath at forwards short leg.
Laxman reached his second half-century of the match from 120 balls with five fours and 160 minutes batting, as India reached 192 for 3, an overall lead of 203 runs heading into the final hour’s play for the day.
Laxman hit back one hard and low to Sammy in the dying stages of the day’s play when on 69 at 223 for 3, but the Windies skipper failed to hold on to the offer low down to his right on his follow through.
So far, Laxman and Kohli have added 75 runs for the fourth wicket, with Laxman facing 171 balls and hitting six fours in 228 minutes, with Kohli facing 98 deliveries, hitting one four and one six batting for 110 minutes.
All told, the West Indies sent down 83 overs in the day and India scored 206 runs for the loss of three wickets on a day that was once again interrupted twice by rain.

INDIA 1st innings 201
West Indies 1st innings 190
INDIA 2nd innings (o/night 23-0)
A. Mukund c Baugh b Edwards    48
M. Vijay c Baugh b Rampaul    3
R. Dravid c Sarwan b Edwards    55
VVS. Laxman not out    72
V. Kohli not out    26
Extras: (b-4, lb-8, w-5, nb-8)    25
Total: (for 3 wickets, off 89 overs)    229
Fall of wickets: 1-26, 2-89, 3-154.
Bowling: Edwards 17-4-58-2 (w-1, nb-5), Rampaul 21-5-51-1 (nb-2), Sammy 24-8-45-0, Bishoo 27-4-63-0 (nb-1).