Tue, 22 Nov 2011 - India vs West Indies, West Indies Tour of India 2011-12,3rd Test Match

Match drawn after roller coaster climax

When the teams took field for one last time in the Test series at Wankhede this morning, most people expected a draw as the outcome. And, the match ended like that but a lot happened throughout the day that was not expected. West Indies lasted only 23.2 overs as Indian spinners wrecked havoc to skittle them for 134. India started the 243-run chase aggressively but lost wickets at crucial intervals. Despite fifties from Virender Sehwag and Virat Kohli, West Indies hung in nicely. Eventually, the match needed with scores level, thus West Indies saving themselves from the ignominy of a 3-0 whitewash.

On the last day of the series, West Indies resumed with an overall lead of 189, draw being the most likely result of the three possibilities. The fact that only 22 wickets had fallen during the last four days would have given the visitors hope of restricting India’s winning score line to 2-0. But, the hosts’ spin duo of Pragyan Ojha and R Ashwin ran through the West Indian batting line with clinical efficiency to set up the match nicely for their famed batting.

Darren Bravo started confidently against the spinners even though his overnight partner, Kraigg Brathwaite was sent back by Ojha in fifth over of the morning. He drove Varun Aaron for back to back boundaries to take West Indies’ score into three figures.

Ojha then bowled the over that changed complexion of the game. Bravo on 48 went for an expansive drive on a fullish delivery, instead was caught by the bowler. Three testing deliveries put Marlon Samuels under pressure and he jumped out of his crease on the fourth one to be stumped for zero. The double-wicket maiden from the left-armer was enough for India to think of a victory.

In the next over, Ashwin bowled Carlton Baugh and Kieron Powell joined the procession shortly afterwards. With West Indies falling like a pack of cards and their lead still in chaseable territory, the game had swung in India’s favour big time.

120 for seven became 134 all-out as Ashwin ended the innings with wickets of successive deliveries to finish with figures of 4 for 34. But, it was Ojha’s devastating 6 for 47 that left India with a target of 243 in 64 overs. West Indies after the huge first innings score of 590, were once again found wanting against quality spin on a track with marginal assistance for them. Ojha and Ashwin picked up all the ten wickets to fall in the second innings.

Virender Sehwag came in to bat in what was a tricky chase, India needed a quick fire knock from him to lay a foundation on which the experienced middle-order could build. However, it was Gambhir who started the scoring with a steer down to third man boundary off the very first ball. At Lunch, India had reduced the target by16 with all their wickets intact.

Immediately after the break, West Indies had an opportunity to break through but Ravi Rampaul gave Sehwag a reprieve off his own bowling. But, Gambhir wasn’t so lucky, caught by Darren Sammy at point.

Even though Dravid showed some intent, Sehwag too charge of the chase with his usual style of play, audacious yet effective. His 64-ball 60 laced with eight boundaries completely overshadowed Dravid in 82-run stand for the second wicket. By the time, he left after being dropped two more times, India were well and truly dictating terms.

However, West Indies removed Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar in quick succession to peg India back. Second innings specialist VVS Laxman and youngster Virat Kohli batted sensibly till Tea to give their team more than a sniff in the last session, 95 required from 30 overs with six wickets to go.

Just when India looked to be in control, West Indies struck as Laxman top-edged a pull off the bowling of Rampaul. Having added 52 with Kohli, his dismissal brought MS Dhoni to the crease.

While Kohli played the lot of maturity to steer the chase, Dhoni’s edgy innings of 13 was cut short by a smart catch in the covers. With 54 still needed, in came R Ashwin, the first innings centurion but the job was tougher than his earlier effort.

Without taking any unnecessary risks, the two rookies kept the score board moving with ones and twos. In between, Kohli smacked one through the covers to take India past 200. Soon, he reached his second and the most important fifty of the match with a nudged single, celebrating it with another four of Bishoo.

Slow accumulation from the two meant that the equation came down to 19 from 5 overs but there was still time for a twist. Virat Kohli having taken India to the brink was caught at short third-man while attempting a cut off a wide Bishoo delivery.

Ishant Sharma played a beautiful drive to further reduce the target to fifteen. Few scampered singles and fielding misses allowed India to come within striking distance of victory, four were needed but Rampaul cleaned up Sharma with an inswinger on the second last ball of the penultimate over.

Another single brought India closer, three needed in the last over with Varun Aaron on strike. Fidel Edwards bowled three dot balls before Aaron stole one off a misfiled. Two runs were required on the last delivery, Ashwin hit a forceful shot down the ground, ran the first one comfortably but was run-out on the second. As a result, the scores were tied, since India still had one wicket left, the match ended as a draw.

Day 4: Bulletin on next page