The Hindu : Sport : Lara's genius thwarts Indians

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Friday, Jun 16, 2006

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Lara's genius thwarts Indians

S. Ram Mahesh

Gros Islet: The work of a genius, the whim of the weather, and admirable lower order batting helped West Indies hang on for the second successive Test, and deny India victory. But, to say the visiting side failed to seal the deal again — suggested by some observers — would be to miss the point completely and reveal a lack of thought. That India came so close in both instances is in itself praiseworthy. At the Beausejour Cricket Ground here, Rahul Dravid's men did their utmost on the final day of the second Test. They still fell three wickets short.

Factors against India

Bear in mind though the following: India lost a full day's play to rain; the track, by virtue of being under covers and away from the marauding spikes of batsmen, didn't deteriorate sufficiently and played like a third-day strip.

Skipper Brian Lara — West Indies's hero with a 307-ball 120 — admitted as much: "Yes, not only were the 90 overs erased, the pitch didn't deteriorate over those 48 hours. That certainly worked to our benefit".

With the century Lara joined Steve Waugh (32) on joint third on the list of most number of centuries behind Sachin Tendulkar (35) and Sunil Gavaskar (34).

India fell three wickets short alright — three wickets short in a four-day game, mind you. "We almost won the match in four days," said Dravid. "Had we not lost those 90 overs, we would have had a good chance of winning. We got 17 wickets in 200 overs and made 588 on the same wicket at four an over. We can take a lot of heart that we dominated for four days."

The touring side took two in the first session before being confronted with the Lara-Chanderpaul combine. Anil Kumble found a way through after the pair had played out 43.4 overs. Four for 181 with nearly 50 overs remaining.

Many a close shout

The Indians had many close shouts for leg-before against Lara — at least two were dead-eye certain. Decisions going against a team are part of cricket — India didn't complain — but in a four-day game every little bit matters. Ironic perhaps — and maybe even poetic justice — that when Lara did cop a leg-before decision it was wrong. His pad was outside off-stump, and the ball would have missed off in any event.

Even at that stage, India had a chance. It had over 20 overs to get five wickets — two in quick succession and panic could have set. But, Bravo (47, 122b, three fours, one six) watched out the critical phase, and then Bradshaw soaked up 40 balls for his one to avert danger.

The track didn't help matters for the visiting side. "It was a slow and low wicket — the edges didn't carry," said Dravid. "Because of the low bounce, there were limited ways we could get people out — leg-before and bowled. There wasn't much point having too many slips."

The captain dropped Ramdin at second slip — a tough chance to his left — in the 112th over. "One or two sharp chances we could have held," said Dravid "But, the guys were standing close because the wicket was keeping low. It's one of the things we are working on."

How frustrating was it to be denied? "Well, in this match, fortune didn't favour us — losing out on those 90 overs," said Dravid. "But, we can't get too disappointed. The part of the game that was in our hands, that we could control, we did really well."

His counterpart, expectedly, reacted like he had picked a get-out-of-jail-free card. "We are buoyant that we are still level," said Lara. "No one has drawn blood."

SCOREBOARD

India — 1st innings: 588 for eight wkts. decl. (in 148.2 overs).

West Indies — 1st innings: 215 in 85.1 overs.

West Indies — 2nd innings: C. Gayle c Dhoni b Pathan 2, D. Ganga b Kumble 26, B. Lara lbw b Sehwag 120, R. Sarwan c Dhoni b Munaf 1, S. Chanderpaul c Pathan b Kumble 54, D. Bravo c Yuvraj b Kumble 47, D. Ramdin (not out) 19, I. Bradshaw lbw b Munaf 1, J. Taylor (not out) 0; Extras (lb-5, nb-14, penalty-5) 24. Total (for seven wkts. in 119 overs) 294.

Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Gayle), 2-51 (Ganga), 3-52 (Sarwan), 4-181 (Chanderpaul), 5-252 (Lara), 6-277 (Bravo), 7-291 (Bradshaw).

India bowling: Pathan 15-2-50-1, Munaf 21-7-50-2, V.R.V. Singh 11-0-39-0, Kumble 42-10-98-3, Sehwag 30-10-47-1.

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