Darren Bravo's regal stance evoked a ‘Brian Lara-Part II' placard in the stands. The southpaw needs to traverse miles before he can be anointed as the cricketing successor to his famous relative but Bravo's third hundred in his last four Tests including the latest at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday and a style reminiscent of Lara, ensured that the comparisons continued unabated.
Bravo's 166 (284b, 17x4) extended the West Indies first innings to 575 for nine on the second day of the third and final Test while the Indians gaped at a knock that strengthened the visitors' unfinished 720-minute tenure at the crease since Tuesday morning.
One moment encapsulated the resignation that crept into the Indian squad while Bravo reigned. Soon after tea with Bravo emphasising his affinity for the host's bowlers, a facet visible right from his 136 at Kolkata, M.S. Dhoni lobbed the ball to Gautam Gambhir at fine-leg.
Gambhir rifled back a throw and Dhoni then lobbed the red cherry to Varun Aaron at mid-on. Those minutes, seemingly, stretched the simple routine of relaying the ball back to the bowler (Ishant Sharma) into eternity.
Key partnerships
Bravo's hundred also co-habited with two key partnerships — 164 with Kirk Edwards for the third-wicket and 160 with Kieran Powell for the fourthwicket. The alliances strengthened the resolve in the West Indies dressing room.
The day commenced with ominous clues from Bravo's bat as he drove Aaron's first two deliveries for four each and the West Indies, resuming at 267 for two, relished the start. Aaron's length remained awry and provoked the drive and the pull and when Kirk Edwards's edge screeched through the vacant third slip, the speedster held his head in dismay.
Edwards (86) became a victim to Ishant Sharma's impressive doubt-inducing line close to the off-stump but Powell (81), who replaced an injured Shivnarine Chanderpaul in the eleven, set an aggressive tempo.
Powell was not averse to dancing down with his lofted shots against the spinners while Bravo feathered his runs through the off-side. Bravo also revealed the pull while Aaron and Pragyan Ojha, felt the heat of that stinging shot.
Soon a square-driven four off R. Ashwin ushered in Bravo's third Test century from his 13th match and helped the West Indies nurse a lunch score of 378 for three.
Breakthrough
After the break, excitement suddenly leapt across the venue when Sachin Tendulkar turned his arm over with a larger medley of off-breaks while his impish leg-spin was also weaved in a good measure.
Tendulkar's partnership-breaking skills never surfaced and finally, Ojha caused the breakthrough when Powell attempted a cut.
Next man, Marlon Samuels (61) continued the glad tidings that rung through the West Indies batting order and became the latest among the top six to get past 50.
At the other end, Bravo preferred his runs all along the carpet and never even once attempted to hoist over the ropes and at tea, the visitors (494 for four) could happily dunk their cookies into their beverage.
In the last session, Aaron (three for 106) found his redemptive streak on debut with a spell of 6-0-31-3 that included the prize-wicket of Bravo, who launched an expansive drive.
The seamer nearly scalped Samuels on 46 but Dhoni dropped the chance, a contrast to his earlier four catches.
Aaron's last over cost 19 runs with Samuels and Ravi Rampaul striking with aplomb but by then Ashwin (four for 154) got into the wicket-taking act.
The carrom ball undid Samuels and Rampaul was consumed at silly point to offer belated cheer for the tiring Indians but with the last-wicket pair still at the crease, Dhoni's men will have to play catch-up over the next three days.
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 c Dhoni b Ishant 86 (165b, 13x4), D. Bravo c Dhoni b Aaron 166 (284b, 17x4), K. Powell c Dhoni b Ojha 81 (149b, 9x4), M. Samuels c Dravid b Ashwin 61 (103b, 9x4), C. Baugh b Aaron 4 (6b, 1x4), D. Sammy c Dhoni b Aaron 3 (6b), R. Rampaul c Kohli b Ashwin 10 (14b, 2x4), F. Edwards (batting) 7 (22b, 1x4), D. Bishoo (batting) 2 (7b); Extras (b-8, lb-15, nb-2): 25; Total (for nine wkts. in 181 overs): 575.
Fall of wickets : 1-137 (Barath), 2-150 (Brathwaite), 3-314 (Edwards), 4-474 (Powell), 5-518 (Bravo), 6-524 (Baugh), 7-540 (Sammy), 8-563 (Rampaul), 9-566 (Samuels).
India bowling : Ishant 30-9-72-1, Aaron 28-4-106-3, Ojha 48-10-126-1, Ashwin 51-6-154-4, Sehwag 16-1-61-0, Kohli 2-0-9-0, Tendulkar 6-0-24-0.
