WI fight following on but still 283 behind

Agencies

Kolkata, 17 November 2011: A fine display by India’s bowlers, led by Pragyan Ojha’s four-wicket haul, triggered a West Indian collapse day three of the second Test, giving MS Dhoni the opportunity to enforce the follow-on. However, the visitors displayed stiff resistance in their second innings to reach 195 for 3 at stumps here on Wednesday..

 

Umesh Yadav (3/23) and R Ashwin (2/49) assisted Ojha (4/64) on the third morning - which began half an hour early - to bowl West Indies out for a paltry 153 by lunch, giving India a huge 478-run lead. The mainstay of the West Indies batting, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, failed to fire and was dismissed lbw by Ashwin for just four.

 

Following India’s decision to enforce the follow on, Adrian Barath and Kirk Edwards shared a 93-run stand after Kraigg Brathwaite was removed early by Yadav, who impressed with his line and control over reverse-swing.

 

 

The duo struck useful half -centuries to lead the Caribbean fightback, but it is likely to prove futile with India still 283 runs ahead with two full days left in the match.

 

Barath, who came into the squad for the second Test, made up for his miss in the first innings and provided strength at the top. In Edwards, he found an able partner and the duo farmed the strike while making sure they didn’t miss out any scoring opportunity whenever a loose delivery arrived.

 

But after tea, Barath (63) was dismissed by Ishant Sharma when VVS Laxman plucked a smart catch in the slips to give the Indian speedster his first wicket of the match.

 

Darren Bravo came out playing his strokes, confirming the West Indian approach of not letting the Indian spinners settle in their second essay. He was not afraid to come down the track and lift the Indian spinners whenever they chose to give the ball a bit of air, resulting in three sixes off his bat.

 

But just when it looked like Bravo and Edwards would take West Indies to stumps, Ishant struck again when the latter was adjudged lbw playing across to a straightening delivery.

 

Chanderpaul, striding in at the fall of Edwards, had the platform to get his eye in unlike the first innings. He and Bravo then buckled down to take West Indies to stumps with seven wickets still in hand. However, with two full days left in the match, it still looks a mountain for the visitors to climb.