Related Links : West Indies’ Tour of India 2011/12 : Scorecard of India Vs West Indies, 2nd Test at Kolkata
India barely managed to pull off an innings victory by 15 runs in the Second Test at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. It was tough going for the bowlers as the pitch looked placid and the young Darren Bravo showed his master class with a scintillating century. It was like Brian Lara returning for the West Indies as the bowlers were dominated by some ruthless strokeplay by his duplicate – Darren Bravo. However, after his exit, it was yet another collapse for the West Indians as they lost their last five wickets for just 62 runs in around 16 overs!
The fourth day began with West Indies at a promising 195 for 3 in 62 overs with Bravo (38*) and Chanderpaul (21*) at the crease. The first hour was absolutely flat for India as the bowlers found the pitch to be too slow to their liking. There was just the odd moment that of Gambhir missing out an easy run out opportunity offered by Darren Bravo. The hosts’ only hope at one point of time seemed to be the second new ball and against run of play, they got the big fish Shivnarine Chanderpaul (47 from 94 balls with 6 fours) chopping a short of length delivery from Umesh Yadav onto the stumps. Chanderpaul paid price for a casual steer to thirdman in the 84th over to end what was a 108-run stand for the fourth wicket.
India thought they had got the opening after removing Chanderpaul but new man Marlon Samuels batting for his place in the side came good to defy the bowlers along with the aggressive Bravo. By lunch, West Indies moved onto 339 for 4 in 98 overs with Bravo on 117* and Samuels on 31*. Bravo was lucky that he wasn’t given out bat pad to Pragyan Ojha by Umpire Bruce Oxenford despite getting a huge inside edge.
Post lunch saw India finally getting rid of Darren Bravo when he failed to pick a straighter one from Pragyan Ojha and ended up edging it to an alert Dravid at slip in the 111th over. Bravo who scored a 2nd Test century finished with 136 (coming in 230 balls with 16 fours and four power packed sixes). Bravo’s partnership with Samuels was worth 132 runs for the fifth wicket. Within no time after Bravo’s exit, Ojha got one more scalp when he had Wicket Keeper Carlton Baugh (3 from 19) edging him to Dravid who pulled off a magnificent one handed diving catch to his right. In the very next over, R Ashwin joined the party by removing the fluent Marlon Samuels (84 from 111 balls with 13 fours and a six) who went back instead of coming forward to get hit plumb infront of off by a low turning off break.
Ashwin provided another quick wicket when he had Kemar Roach (1 from 13 balls) bowled through the gate with a classical off break that drifted away to invite a cover drive but only to turn in big to kiss the stumps. After taking the 8th wicket, India were under attack by the West Indian Captain Darren Sammy as he struck three big sixes and threatened to force India to bat again.
A timely move from MS Dhoni to bring back his express bowler Umesh Yadav paid dividends. Umesh Yadav rattled the stumps twice in as many balls to finish off things in style. First he cleaned up Darren Sammy (32 from 28 balls with a four and 3 sixes) with a full length off cutter at around 142 kmph which defeated a rash big shot to strike the off stump. Last man Devendra Bishoo was out for a first ball duck, going back in defence and getting his off stump cleaned up by a fast off cutter. Fidel Edwards remained unbeaten on 15* at the other end.
West Indies got bowled out for 463 with their second innings lasting an impressive 126.3 overs. Umesh Yadav was the pick of the bowlers taking 4 for 80 in 17.3 overs while Ishant, Ojha and Ashwin contributed two wickets each. VVS Laxman for his unbeaten 176 got the Man of the Match and India with an innings and 15 runs victory took an unassailable series lead of 2-0.