In a creditable performance, a depleted Indian side defeated the West Indies by 63 runs in the first Digicel Test at Sabina Park here on Thursday.
Pursuing a demanding 326 on a surface of inconsistent bounce, the Caribbeans crumbled to 262 all out after lunch on day four.
It was all over when Suresh Raina's off-spin ended the 39-run last wicket partnership — that was both determined and enterprising — between Fidel Edwards and Devendra Bishoo.
Paceman Praveen Kumar's telling strikes opened the sluice gates for India. And Ishant Sharma bowled with heart and intensity as India made deep inroads.
Earlier, riding on Man-of-the-Match 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.
Amid the ruins at this famous venue, there was a sliver of hope for West Indies cricket. The West Indies Cricket Board has written to star batsman Chris Gayle that it is open to further talks with him. And the vice-president of the West Indies Players Association, Wavell Hinds, has said that Gayle was willing to apologise if necessary.
Without Gayle, the West Indies lacked the batting firepower to unsettle India. Dhoni's men required an early breakthrough on day four; the first session was always going to be crucial.
The clever Praveen spotted a chink in Darren Bravo's game. The left-hander was moving too far across in his attempt to work the ball on the leg-side; he was leaving his leg-stump exposed in the process. With a smartly bowled delivery from round the wicket, Praveen nailed Bravo in this shortcoming.
Praveen, deceptive with his whippy wrist action, uses the crease to harness the angles. He also employs the cross seam, landing the ball on the side, to get the sphere to skid through.
Praveen struck again when he foxed southpaw Shivnarine Chanderpaul with a change of pace. The left-hander was picked up by Suresh Raina at cover. Praveen was also walking the tightrope after receiving his first warning for running on to the danger area.
Carlton Baugh did not last long; Harbhajan Singh ripped a quicker off-spinner and the West Indian was held at leg-slip.
Skipper Darren Sammy, throwing caution to the winds, powered Harbhajan for three successive sixes between long-on and mid-wicket.
Sammy's assault ended soon. Done in by leg-spinner Amit Mishra's loop, the West Indies skipper holed out to extra cover. India was tightening the noose.
The West Indies continued to dissipate. The unpredictable pitch led to Brendon Nash's downfall. The left-hander shaped for a pull but the short delivery from Mishra hugged the surface.
Ravi Rampaul (34) struck some brave blows but he was prised out by a brutal delivery from Ishant that climbed from a length; 'keeper Dhoni took a high catch. Rampaul pointed to the umpires that it was the third bouncer of the over but the decision had been made.
The host began the pursuit like a runaway train on day three with openers Adrian Barath (38) and Lendl Simmons (27), unmindful of the cordon behind the stumps, launching into the Indian bowling.
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.
Bravo and Chanderpaul pegged India back in the final hour of day three.
Earlier, Dravid held the Indian second innings together. His 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 drooped.
Dravid's 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.
For the West Indies, the niggardly Darren Sammy — he won a contentious leg-before verdict against Harbhajan — and leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo scalped four each.
Scoreboard
India — 1st innings : 246.
West Indies — 1st innings : 173.
India — 2nd innings : A. Mukund c Baugh b Bishoo 25 (75b, 3x4), M. Vijay lbw b Rampaul 0 (2b), R. Dravid c Sarwan b Bishoo 112 (274b, 10x4, 1x6), V.V.S. Laxman c & b Sammy 0 (5b), V. Kohli c Baugh b Edwards 15 (54b, 2x4), S. Raina c Sammy b Bishoo 27 (53b, 3x4), M.S. Dhoni c Edwards b Bishoo 16 (16b, 1x4, 1x6), Harbhajan lbw b Sammy 5 (31b), Praveen b Sammy 0 (2b), A. Mishra c Bravo b Sammy 28 (60b, 4x4), Ishant Sharma (not out) 5 (6b, 1x4); Extras (b-8, lb-2, nb-9): 19; Total (in 94.5 overs): 252.
Fall of wickets : 1-0 (Vijay), 2-56 (Mukund), 3-57 (Laxman), 4-100 (Kohli), 5-148 (Raina), 6-166 (Dhoni), 7-183 (Harbhajan), 8-183 (Praveen), 9-239 (Mishra).
West Indies bowling : Edwards 20-1-70-1, Rampaul 22-3-49-1, Sammy 27-11-52-4, Bishoo 24.5-2-65-4, Nash 1-0-6-0.
West Indies — 2nd innings : A. Barath c Raina b Praveen 38 (36b, 4x4, 2x6), L. Simmons b Ishant 27 (41b, 3x4, 1x6), R. Sarwan c Kohli b Ishant 0 (2b), D. Bravo b Kumar 41 (89b,7x4), S. Chanderpaul c Raina b Kumar 30 (73b, 4x4), B. Nash lbw Mishra 9 (36b), C. Baugh c Kohli b Harbhajan 0 (4b), D. Sammy c Laxman b Mishra 25 (11b, 1x4, 3x6), R. Rampaul 34 c Dhoni b Ishant (32b, 6x4, 1x6), F. Edward (not out) 15 (54b, 1x4), D. Bishoo b Raina 26 (33b, 2x4, 1x6); Extras (b-1, lb-13, w-2, nb-1): 17; Total (in 68.2 overs): 262.
Fall of wickets : 1-62 (Barath), 2-63 (Sarwan), 3-80 (Simmons), 4-148 (Bravo), 5-149 (Chanderpaul), 6-150 (Baugh), 7-181 (Sammy), 8-188 (Nash), 9-223 (Rampaul).
India bowling : Praveen 16-3-42-3, Ishant 17-3-81-3, Mishra 13-1-62-2, Harbhajan 16-3-54-1, Raina 6.2-1-9-1.
