Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman beefed up India’s lead with a 54-run, third-wicket stand, carrying them to 143 for two in their second innings at tea in the rain-affected second Test against West Indies on Friday. Dravid was not out on 48 and Laxman was not out on 26, taking the Indians to an overall lead of 154 at the interval on the rain-hit fourth day. The visitors’ two most decorated batsmen drew upon their vast experience to consolidate their side’s position, after they lost opener Abhinav Mukund in the first hour following lunch.
Mukund was caught behind for 48, gloving a snorter from Fidel Edwards, following a 63-run, second-wicket stand with Dravid. Before lunch, India reached 62 for one, after play started 50 minutes later than regularly scheduled.
The visitors resumed from their overnight total of 23 without loss, but they lost opener Murali Vijay in the second full over of the day, when he was caught behind for three, edging an unplayable delivery that moved away sharply. Mukund and Dravid started to blossom, following a circumspect start against a West Indies attack that continued to exploit the lively Kensington Oval pitch.
Mukund drove West Indies captain Darren Sammy through mid-off for his second boundary to get into stride, and Dravid steered a delivery from Edwards between third slip and the gully for his first four. Dravid however, had an anxious wait on nine, when he turned a delivery from Sammy to mid-wicket, and fielder Adrian Barath claimed a low catch, diving forward. But a consultation between on-field umpire Asad Rauf and TV umpire Gregory Brathwaite gave Dravid a reprieve. 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.
