India’s bid for victory in the second Test against the West Indies hit a snag as Darren Bravo and Shivnarine Chanderpaul navigated the hosts to 108 for three at tea on Saturday. India had West Indies wobbling on 55 for three but Bravo, not out on 45, and Chanderpaul, not out on 12, added an unbroken 53 for the fourth wicket as the home team chased 281 for victory on the final day at Kensington Oval.
Ishant Sharma removed opener Adrian Barath in the first 10 minutes after lunch and was India’s most successful bowler with two for 28 from 10 overs.
Sharma had Barath caught at third slip for 27, but Chanderpaul and Bravo spent nearly two hours at the crease, stemming the fall of wickets.
Before lunch, India’s new-ball pair of Sharma and Praveen Kumar took India closer to a series-clinching win as the West Indies reached 51 for two.
Sharma and Kumar each collected a wicket to give the Indians a bright start, after V.V.S. Laxman had been dismissed for 87, as India moved to 269 for six in their second innings before declaring just over an hour into the morning.
Sharma made the breakthrough when opener Lendl Simmons was caught at first slip for 14, edging a loose drive, and Kumar had Ramnaresh Sarwan caught at second slip for eight, top-edging a cut, leaving West Indies 27 for two.
Earlier, India’s drive towards a match-winning position was undermined slightly when fast bowler Fidel Edwards scalped three wickets, finishing with five for 76 from 23 overs — the ninth time in Tests he has taken five wickets in an innings. Virat Kohli was an early Edwards victim when he was caught at second slip for 27 before Laxman, who had made 85 in the first innings, followed in similar fashion six overs later.
Laxman’s second dig of 87 contained eight fours from 188 balls in just under four and a half hours. India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni continued his lean patch with the bat, as he was caught at mid-off off Edwards for five shortly before making the declaration. A victory would allow India to wrap up their second straight Test series win 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.
