Related Links : West Indies’ Tour of India 2011/12 : Scorecard of India Vs West Indies, 3rd Test at Mumbai
While the fourth day’s play at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai was thought to be history in the making with Sachin Tendulkar expected to finally register the 100th International ton, one man out of nowhere took the honours with a maiden Test century and that too coming in at no.8!
Sachin Tendulkar disappointed the full house at the Wankhede Stadium by getting out on 94 and the limelight from him was stolen by Ravichandran Ashwin who with a maiden Test century, not only secured the match for India, but also showed the exit door for Harbhajan Singh from the Indian team for the upcoming Australian tour. It was after 49 years that an Indian player managed to achieve the rare feat of taking a five-wicket haul and also scoring a century in a Test. Only Vinoo Mankad and Polly Umrigar could achieve this rare double feat for India in the past.
The third and final Airtel Test at the Wankhede Stadium is all set for a draw with West Indies forced to bat again with India posting 482 in their first innings. West Indies are now required to bat safely to ensure that there is no chance of a dramatic Indian victory. West Indies closed the fourth day’s play at 84 for 2 with Kraigg Brathwaite (34* from 102 balls) and Darren Bravo (27* from 68 balls) at the crease. Pragyan Ojha consumed Adrian Barath (caught brilliantly by Laxman at covers in an attacking drive) and Kirk Edwards (stumped out after getting beaten by the turn and in the air in a lofted shot) to trigger a bit of panic but West Indies soon steadied things towards a possible draw with an overall lead of 189 runs.
Earlier in the day, VVS Laxman (32) was out to the very first ball he faced when he sliced his drive off Fidel Edwards to gully. Sachin Tendulkar looking for a 100th international ton got very close to that landmark playing his shots freely against the second new ball. However, in another forcing shot off the backfoot Tendulkar (94 from 153 balls with 8 fours and 2 sixes) got smartly caught at second slip by Sammy with Ravi Rampaul getting a short of length delivery to kick up. Soon after that Skipper MS Dhoni (8) got cleaned up playing all around a straight yorker from his counterpart Sammy.
India was feeling the pressure at 331 for 6 with follow on still 60 runs away. Virat Kohli who was fighting for a berth in the Test side had to come good and along with him was newcomer R Ashwin. The duo kept their head down to carry India safely to 376 for 6 in 105 overs by the lunch break. After lunch, the two batsmen eased India past the follow on and also got their respective maiden Test fifties. Just when things looked settled, Virat Kohli (52 from 111 balls with 5 fours) threw his wicket away by holing out to mid on in an attempted lofted short off Bishoo. Kohli put up a crucial 97-run partnership with Ashwin.
The last three batsmen for India – Ishant, Varun Aaron and Pragyan Ojha hung in for sufficient time to let R Ashwin come up with a maiden Test century. Ashwin was the last man to be dismissed soon after reaching his century, he finished with 103 from 118 balls which came with 15 fours and 2 sixes. India conceded a first innings lead of 108 runs and letting West Indies bat for just the one session on Day 4.