Ishant Sharma bowled with searing intensity, Darren Bravo produced an innings that was both solid and flowing under extreme pressure and the dashing Carlton Baugh provided an unexpected twist to the match. Cricket made compelling viewing.
The atmosphere on the arena was tense when the umpires offered light to the batsmen at 5-49 p.m. local time to bring to conclusion a gripping last day's play in the second Digicel Test.
Ironically, the arena was filled with bright sunlight moments after the players shook hands.
Pursuing 281 in a minimum of 83 overs on a Saturday of action, the West Indies was 202 for seven when the rain-interrupted but fascinating Test ended.
India is yet to beat the Caribbeans in a Test in Barbados. Both teams travel to Dominica for the final Test beginning on July 6 with India leading 1-0.
The match was tantalisingly poised when a downpour cut into the contest after tea with the West Indies at 181 for five in 64.3 overs.
The graceful Bravo was firm at one end while Baugh cut loose from the other.
Could the West Indies pull off a rousing win? The noise from the stands grew louder.
When the play resumed, the host needed 100 more runs from 17.3 overs with five wickets in hand.
Then, Mithun sent back Bravo (73) who attempted to glide a back-of-a-length delivery outside the off-stump.
And Ishant trapped Darren Sammy leg-before with a scorching inswinger.
When the match finished soon — after 71.3 overs — a sense of relief was palpable in the crowd.
Ishant who achieved the first ten-wicket haul of his Test career — he added four for 53 to his first innings haul of six for 55 — was adjudged Player of the Match.
He bowled with exemplary commitment and skill and has added a potent leg-cutter to his repertoire.
Apart from his pace and bounce, he bowled with telling precision and harnessed the angles.
Bold declaration
Dhoni's bold declaration had set the game up but India could not press on after the West Indies seemed to be in trouble at 132 for five.
India was baulked by the 69-run partnership between Bravo and Baugh (46 not out).
The impressive Bravo picked his moments to defend and attack.
When Ishant probed him from round the wicket, the left-hander ‘left' deliveries outside the off-stump. He also caressed Ishant through the off-side field and square-drove Praveen Kumar.
And Harbhajan Singh was whipped through mid-wicket.
Surviving a vociferous appeal for leg-before from Ishant early in his innings, Baugh displayed hand-eye coordination when he smashed Harbhajan to the point fence and smote the off-spinner over mid-wicket for the maximum.
The wicket-keeper batsman then launched into the inconsistent Mithun with three successive boundaries.
The outfield was slow but the intrepid Baugh was still finding the ropes.
Rocked early by the Indian strikes, the West Indies fought hard for survival through the experienced Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Bravo.
Harbhajan provided the breakthrough by dismissing a defiant Chanderpaul soon after tea. The left-hander was hit on the back leg as he shaped to play across. The replays showed the ball was spinning away and missing the off-stump.
Chanderpaul was the key man under these circumstances and the West Indies had suffered a key blow. Although he found turn and bounce with the odd delivery, Harbhajan could not pose a consistent threat on a surface that did not become spinner-friendly on the final day. There were occasions when the off-spinner struggled with his length.
The inspired Ishant struck again. Marlon Samuels was defeated by a delivery angled into him from the lanky paceman. The right-hander played down the wrong line and the Indian appeal for leg-before was upheld; it was a marginal verdict.
The West Indies, 132 for five, was under considerable pressure. Close-in catchers surrounded the bat as Harbhajan operated. And a strong cordon behind the stumps was in place when Ishant steamed in.
Then, Bravo and Baugh provided a new dimension to the game before the weather had the final say.
