In a captivating Test that has twisted and turned, the West Indies enters the fourth day needing 195 more runs with seven wickets remaining. It's advantage India but the host is in with a shout.
Chasing 326, the Caribbeans were 131 for three at stumps on the third day of the first Digicel Test at the Sabina Park here on Wednesday.
The pitch appeared to have settled down in the final session due to the effect of rolling ahead of West Indian second innings. Thursday's first session could prove decisive.
Riding on Rahul Dravid's master-class – the champion batsman notched up a spirit-lifting 112 – India made 252 in its second innings. The West Indies pressed hard but Dravid proved a formidable barrier.
The host, then, began the pursuit like a runaway train with openers Adrian Barath (38) and Lendl Simmons (27), unmindful of the cordon behind the stumps, launching into the Indian bowling. The aggressive Barath hooked and then top edged Ishant Sharma for the maximum.
Simmons converted the length by walking down to Praveen and flashed the paceman through the off-side field.
The little Barath was put down on 29 by keeper Dhoni when he nicked an attempted cut off leggie Amit Mishra. The opener did not last long though. Praveen moved one away and Suresh Raina held a sharp catch at third slip. But then, an opening partnership of 62 in just 11 overs had provided the Caribbeans the momentum.
The West Indies, instead, lost ground. Ramnaresh Sarwan, batting from memory in this Test, dabbled at a delivery well outside off-stump off Ishant and Virat Kohli took a blinder at gully.
Ishant, working up pace, then castled Simmons with a peach of a delivery – the ball straightened from a mean length even as the batsman was caught at the crease. The West Indies had slumped to 80 for three.
The left-handed duo of Darren Bravo (30 batting) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (24 batting) pegged India back. Bravo employed the cut effectively, putting away Harbhajan and Ishant for boundaries. But he was also fortunate on those occasions when he attempted to essay the stroke from too close to the body.
Chanderpaul tucked and pushed the ball around and used the sweep against Harbhajan and Mishra.
Earlier, Dravid held centre-stage. It was on June 22, 1996, that he walked out to bat for the first time in a Test. The venue was the hallowed Lord's. A composed innings of 95 against a probing English attack underlined his temperament and innings-building skills. Fifteen years and several milestones later, the Test stage continues to inspire him.
On a difficult surface of inconsistent bounce, Dravid's held the Indian second innings together with a outstanding effort of 112. Dravid's 32nd Test hundred oozed character.
Apart from from his solidity, the 38-year old batsman's fitness shone through in searing heat. Displaying trademark powers of concentration, he batted through, deliveries, overs, spells and sessions.
The ninth-wicket partnership between Dravid and a fighting Amit Mishra – the two raised 56 – enabled India's lead swell over the 300-run mark. The West Indian shoulders dropped.
Dravid picked the length quickly and, accordingly, adjusted his back-lift. His defence, off either foot, was immaculate. He cut and punched off the back-foot and when he waded into front-footed drives, Dravid was all balance and poise.
Later in his innings, Dravid brought his dexterous wrists into play. His wristy on-drive off Fidel Edwards sped to the fence. And after he crossed the three-figure mark, Dravid's wristed Bishoo's quicker delivery with terrific bat-speed over the bowler's head for the maximum.
In the first hour, Fidel Edwards continued to torment Virat Kohli with lifting deliveries before nailing him with one that was anglied into his ribs.
Suresh Raina appeared solid, ducking under the short-pitched deliveries and meeting the length balls with the full face of his bat. His straight push-drive off Edwards reflected his mind-set.
The left-hander looked good for more when he was adjudged caught at leg-slip off Bishoo on the sweep. Replays showed the ball had not made contact with either the bat or the glove.
The persistent Sammy – he lacks pace but seams the ball and provides little width or length to the batsmen – struck twice after lunch. He prised out the dangerous Harbhajan Singh who played across to a mild off-cutter; the replays showed the ball was missing stumps.
However, Dravid held firm and Mishra, in-between a few telling strokes such as an off-drive off Edwards, offered dogged resistance. By the time Mishra was picked up at third man upper-cutting Sammy and Dravid, finally, miscued a slog-sweep off Bishoo into mind-on's hands, India had moved into a position from where it could apply pressure on the West Indies.
Bishoo and Sammy scalped four each. Bishoo, who also consumed Dhoni on the cut, ripped his leg-spinners and delivered a potent top-spinner but he tended to bowl a flatter trajectory. He is young and he will learn.
