The incremental benefits of a good second innings at Kolkata helped the West Indies batsmen thrive with confidence at the Wankhede Stadium here on Tuesday.
The 463 at the Eden Gardens, albeit in a losing cause, has uncluttered minds and freed feet and all these traits were visible once Darren Sammy won the toss and opted to bat on the opening day of the third and final Test. At close, the West Indies had scored 267 for two in the first innings.
The West Indies prospered due to the efforts of a quartet that had a combined tally of just 30 Tests ahead of this game.
Adrian Barath, Kraigg Brathwaite, Kirk Edwards and Darren Bravo kept the Indian bowlers, including debutant Varun Aaron, at bay and also helped their team cope with the absence of an injured Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
Century partnership
After the openers Barath and Brathwaite shared a 137-run partnership that stretched well past lunch, Edwards and Bravo continued the good work in conditions, which remained batting-friendly through the day.
The West Indies, effort magnified by the application shown by its batsmen, also benefited from three dropped catches while the run-rate remained steady at 2.93. In the morning, Barath (62) and Brathwaite (68) played with a large measure of comfort. Barath was strong on the drive, while Brathwaite remained obdurate.
Both the openers were beaten once each by Aaron, who replaced Umesh Yadav in the playing eleven.
Aaron's inclusion, a pleasant development for the 22-year-old, stemmed from the team management's desire to have a good look at the rookie seamer ahead of the Australia tour, besides giving Yadav some rest.
Aaron's nerves were obvious in his first over before he settled into his rhythm, while M.S. Dhoni encouraged his fellow Jharkhandi.
Double spin attack
The openers, meanwhile, continued unhindered and Dhoni promptly employed spin with Pragyan Ojha coming in from the ninth over and R. Ashwin stepping in from the 19th. Initially while trying to gauge the conditions, Ashwin struggled for length as Brathwaite and Barath anchored the West Indies to a lunch score of 80 for no loss in 30 overs.
Past lunch, Brathwaite's tendency to shuffle across the stumps and work the ball towards the on-side goaded Ashwin to pitch his off-breaks close to the middle stump and hope for a snick sailing towards V.V.S. Laxman at leg-gully.
The ploy gradually took shape as Brathwaite kept both Ashwin and Laxman interested.
However, when the edge did materialise, there was only dismay for the off-spinner. A diving Laxman failed to hold on and Brathwaite had his reprieve on 57. Ashwin managed to gloss over the aberration when he prised out Barath and Brathwaite with Dhoni and Virat Kohli at short-leg, holding on to the catches. At 150 for two and with the spinners sensing a breach, Edwards (65 batting) allayed lurking fears in his dressing room with a four off Ashwin, straight down the ground. Edwards and Bravo (57 batting) were alert to scoring opportunities and dismissed the loose deliveries with a pleasing sense of aesthetics.
They had their share of fortune too as twice Edwards winced while Ashwin slipped one through the gate and watched the ball sail over the stumps and Aaron's delivery grazed the bat and zipped past the citadel. More was to follow when Dhoni grassed Edwards (then on 29) off Virender Sehwag and Dravid dropped Bravo (33) off Ojha.
Edwards stood tall and found his spots between cover and mid-wicket, while Bravo, true to his credentials of being a southpaw, eased his shots on the off-side. Later, as the shadows lengthened, Edwards's streaky four off Ishant through slips and Bravo's anger on reaching his fifty with an errant glide behind the wicket, all added to the Indians' frustration as they watched the unfinished 117-run third-wicket partnership strike root.
Scoreboard
West Indies — 1st innings : A. Barath c Dhoni b Ashwin 62 (148b, 8x4), K. Brathwaite c Kohli b Ashwin 68 (184b, 8x4), K. Edwards (batting) 65 (117b, 10x4), D. Bravo (batting) 57 (98b, 7x4); Extras (b-4, lb-10, nb-1): 15; Total (for two wkts. in 91 overs): 267.
Fall of wickets : 1-137 (Barath), 2-150 (Brathwaite).
India bowling : Ishant 17-6-33-0, Aaron 16-3-47-0, Ojha 26-7-55-0, Ashwin 27-2-86-2, Sehwag 3-0-23-0, Kohli 2-0-9-0.
