Related Links : India’s Tour of West Indies 2011 : Scorecard of West Indies Vs India, 2nd Test at Bridgetown
The Second Test at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados is likely to end in a draw because of valuable time lost due to rain in the last three days. Conditions were promising on the fourth day and although it was a delayed start, there were nearly 84 overs bowled. India resuming at an overnight score of 23 for 0 finished at a solid 229 for 3 and thus stretching their lead to 240 runs. The visitors may want to add another 60 runs before they declare and leave West Indies with a safe target tomorrow and try to push for a victory. India seems to have done enough to atleast avoid a defeat at a venue which hasn’t been kind to them in the past.
West Indies had an early breakthrough in the morning when Ravi Rampaul forced Murali Vijay (3) to edge his speedy away swinger to the keeper to have India at 26 for 1 in the 8th over. By lunch, India moved to 62 for 1 in 21 overs. Windies were defied after this by a solid partnership between Abhinav Mukund and Rahul Dravid as the pair took the lead towards 100. In the 17th over, there was perhaps a decisive moment in the match when Dravid flicked Sammy uppishly to a diving Barath at squareleg but was given the benefit of doubt as replays were inconclusive! Dravid made West Indies pay heavily after that and India coasted along nicely.
In the 31st over, Fidel Edwards breathed fire as he produced a wicked bouncer which forced Mukund to glove it to the keeper. Poor Mukund had worked hard towards a well made 48 (from 81 balls with 6 fours) by then and was having his eyes on a maiden Test fifty! However he did a good job in weathering the storm along with Dravid. Laxman who replaced Mukund came good for a second time and with a solid Dravid at the other end, West Indies found it too difficult to get any wickets. By Tea, India put up 143 for 2 in 56 overs.
After Tea, both the batsmen eased past their fifties and in the 61st over, Rahul Dravid carelessly edged his cut shot off a rising delivery from Fidel Edwards which was nicely caught at first slip by Sarwan despite being distracted by the keeper’s attempt to take it. Dravid scored 55 from 171 balls with 3 fours while adding up 63 runs for the 2nd wicket with Mukund and then 65 runs with Laxman for the 3rd wicket. Virat Kolhi who replaced Dravid batted solidly to see off the rest of the session along with VVS Laxman and there was no real sense of urgency from India that was shown.
Virat Kohli remained unbeaten on 26 from 98 balls with a four and a six coming from a pull shot off Edwards while VVS Laxman moved onto 72* from 171 balls with 6 fours by stumps on the fourth day.