Indian batsmen V.V.S. Laxman and Suresh Raina both scored half centuries as they led a recovery, guiding India to 147 for four in their first innings at tea in the second Test on Tuesday. Laxman was unbeaten on 69 and Raina was not out on 52, taming the West Indies attack, after the Indians ran into trouble before lunch on the first day in a match that the hosts need to win to level the three match series.
The pair have added 109 – unbroken – for the fifth wicket, taking the visitors from the brink of disaster on 38 for four before lunch.
Laxman reached his 50 from 75 balls, glancing Fidel Edwards to the fine leg boundary for his eight four, and Raina reached the landmark from 90 deliveries, paddling leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo to long-leg for a single. The two batsmen ensured India did not lose a wicket between lunch and tea, after the top order were given a real going over by paceman Ravi Rampaul, who exploited helpful conditions in taking three of the wickets to fall.
Rampaul had astonishing figures of three for four from eight overs at the break on a ground where the visitors have lost the last five test matches they have played. Such was the challenging nature of the conditions before lunch that India struck just three boundaries – all to Laxman – and all back-foot shots. India suffered an early setback, when left-handed opener Abhinav Mukund was caught at gully for one off Rampaul in the second over of the day.
The Indians ran into further trouble, when Rahul Dravid, a century-maker in the first Test, was caught behind for five, playing defensively forward to a delivery from West Indies captain Darren Sammy. Murali Vijay was fortunate on four, when he sliced a drive at a delivery from Sammy, and Bishoo failed to hold onto a low, diving chance at backward point.
India reached 13 for two from 14 overs after the first hour, failing to strike a boundary, but Laxman brought India their first four, when he pulled Sammy through wide mid-on. But the Indians were jolted, when Rampaul had opener Murali Vijay caught behind down the leg side for a painstaking 11, and two deliveries later, Virat Kohli caught at second slip for a duck, fending a sharply rising delivery.
Both sides made one change to their line-ups; for West Indies, Marlon Samuels replaced Brendan Nash, and for the Indians, medium-fast bowler Munaf Patel came in for leg-spinner Amit Mishra. India are looking to wrap up their second straight Test series victory over West Indies in the Caribbean.
They will also be looking to create a piece of history by becoming the first Indian side to win a Test and One-day International series in the Caribbean – but they will also have to overcome their poor history here. Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s team still have cause for optimism though – following a 10-wicket defeat for Sourav Ganguly’s side nine years ago, West Indies have lost six of the next eight Tests they have played at this venue.
