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India effected a remarkable turnaround in their fortunes but were unable to finish it off as West Indies tightened their grip on the series-deciding fifth and final Test here yesterday. After a disappointing batting performance had seen them being bundled out for 212 to concede a 210-run first innings lead, India’s hopes were revived when their bowlers, led by Zaheer Khan and Javagal Srinath, put up a spirited show in the West Indies second innings.
India wiped off the top half of the West Indian batting, including skipper Carl Hooper and star batsman Brian Lara, for just 81 runs and then reduced them to 122 for seven before a stubborn eighth-wicket partnership between Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Pedro Collins spoiled their party. Chanderpaul and Collins put on 43 runs in about one-and-a-half hours to carry their team to 165 for seven at the end of the third day’s play, which gave the West Indies a commanding lead of 375.
Chanderpaul, who has been the thorn in the flesh for the Indians in this series, played another frustrating knock to remain unbeaten on 55, his third half-century apart from the three hundreds he has scored in the last five matches. Collins made only four runs but provided excellent support to his partner. India bounced back into the match due to the inspired opening spells from Srinath and Zaheer who produced vital breakthroughs to derail the West Indian second innings which had begun with quite a flourish.
To avoid batting fourth on a pitch that was expected to behave in an unexpected manner on the fourth and fifth days, West Indies did not enforce a follow-on despite being in a position to do so. Openers Chris Gayle and Wavell Hinds started in an attacking fashion in order to quickly build on the first innings lead. Gayle drove Srinath for two successive boundaries and then square cut him in a subsequent over before the bowler struck back to dismiss his partner. Hinds, who had scored only six by then, edged a Srinath delivery and V V S Laxman took a good low catch in front of first slip.
Just six runs had been added when Srinath sent back Gayle too, the batsman cutting uppishly to give an easy catch to Sourav Ganguly at point. Gayle scored 15 off 29 balls. However, it was Zaheer Khan who produced the three big wickets of Ramnaresh Sarwan (12), Hooper (6) and Brian Lara (35). Sarwan, who had been very consistent in this series, drove Zaheer only to be caught by Shiv Sunder Das at short mid-off.
Hooper, the highest scorer in this series so far, failed for the second time in this match when he edged Zaheer Khan to wicketkeeper Ajay Ratra. Lara played a few attractive shots and was very positive in his 45-ball knock that contained three fours, but he too did not stay for very long. When an inside edge of Lara’s bat crashed into the stumps West Indies were five down for 81 and in deep mess.
Chanderpaul and Ridley Jacobs, whose partnership was a success story of the Antigua Test, added 36 for the sixth wicket before Harbhajan Singh claimed his first wicket of the innings. Jacobs, who was dropped in the slips by Rahul Dravid off Zaheer Khan when on three, was caught by substitute Dinesh Mongia at forward short leg for 16. Immediately thereafter, Ashish Nehra broke the stumps of Mervyn Dillon who attempted a wild heave.
With the tail exposed, India were getting ready to put on their pads for the second time. But to their irritation, Collins defiantly stuck to his end while Chanderpaul continued to prove to be their nemesis. The two batsmen scored at a very slow pace but succeeded in demoralising the Indians while at the same time increasing the lead steadily.
Their partnership was in stark contrast to what the Indian batsmen had to offer earlier in the day. Once overnight batsman Ganguly was dismissed, the tailenders just caved in and India were bowled out within the follow-on mark of 223. The wrecker-in-chief was Dillon who bagged his second five-wicket haul of his career.
India started at their overnight score of 141 for four with Ganguly and Laxman batting extremely cautiously. They took the score to 165 before Ganguly, who had batted for 116 minutes for his 36, snicked Dillon to wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs. That sparked off a familiar late order collapse and there was no support for Laxman who played another fine knock, remaining unbeaten on 65.
The tailenders were tested with a volley of short-pitched deliveries and were found wanting. Ratra, centurion in previous Test, and Harbhajan Singh were out in identical fashion while trying to fend away well-directed bouncers from Dillon. Both scooped the ball gently in the air and Wavell Hinds had some diving catch practice at forward short leg.
Srinath was intimidated by the rising deliveries and he played away from his body to give a simple catch in the slips while Zaheer Khan tried to repeat his hard-hitting career-best knock in Barbados Test but without success. India were 207 for nine at lunch with Laxman having completed his half-century in the company of Nehra. Laxman managed to shield Nehra for some time but the trick was over immediately after the lunch break. Going for a run off the last ball of an over from Dillon, Nehra was run out off a direct throw from Sarwan.
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