West Indies middle order batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan driving through the offside at Kensington Oval in Barbados yesterday. The wicketkeeper is India's Ajay Ratra.-DellmarTony Becca, Senior Sport Editor
BRIDGETOWN:
THE West Indies stroked their way into a commanding position on the second day of the third Test against India at Kensington Oval yesterday.
Paced by century partnerships from Ramnaresh Sarwan and Brian Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and captain Carl Hooper, the West Indies, replying to India's first innings 102, were 314 for four at stumps with Chanderpaul on 76 and Hooper on 70 in an unbroken fourth-wicket partnership of 153 in 225 minutes off 308 deliveries.
With three days to go and their lead a handsome 212, the West Indies, one down in the five-match series, ended the day in a wonderful position to push for a victory that would level the count at one-one.
Resuming at 33 for one, the West Indies lost their second wicket in the morning's second over when, without adding to his overnight 14, left-hander Chris Gayle went back to left-arm pace bowler Zaheer Khan, was beaten off the pitch with a delivery that cut into him, and was leg before wicket at 35 for two.
India's hope of picking up a few early wickets and putting the West Indies under pressure was destroyed by Sarwan and Lara, however, as the two left-handers featured in a splendid third-wicket partnership of 119 in 171 minutes off 223 deliveries with Sarwan stroking an attractive 60 and Lara a crafty 55 with a mere five boundaries before they followed each other back to the pavilion in successive overs from left-arm pacer Ashish Nehra.
After that, it was all Chanderpaul and Hooper with the batsmen, first Chanderpaul and then Hooper, taking turns in thrilling the fans with some scintillating stroke play.
As well as they batted, however, Sarwan and Lara must have been disappointed with themselves - just as the fans, as much as they enjoyed their batting, were disappointed in them.
With Sarwan stroking 10 exquisite boundaries, including a picture-perfect drive through extra-cover off Khan, and with Lara reeling off a few spectacular drives after a quiet start, the disappointment was not how they batted.
Sarwan was still searching for his first Test century, and he was in superb form, Lara was obviously playing for one, not so much to add to his 18 but to match Sachin Tendulkar who has already scored one in the series, and the disappointment was that they got out when it appeared that they could not get out.
After batting with a determination that suggested he was on a mission, Lara burst into brilliance with three magnificent drives in successive overs from pacer Javagal Srinath - one to long-on, on to long-off, one through extra-cover - before, with Nehra replacing Srinath, he attempted to force through the onside and tapped a slower delivery back to the bowler.
The look on Lara's face as he walked away at 154 for three suggested that he was bitterly disappointed.
In striding to his 11th half-century in his 20th Test match, Sarwan was in the pink of form, and apart from his front foot drive off Khan minutes after the start of the day's play, he played some glorious shots - including a hook and two majestic drives, one to long-off and one to cover, off Srinath.
Just as it had happened so many times before in a relatively short career, however, the treat ended abruptly when he pounced on a good length delivery slanting across him, attempted a square-drive, failed to get over the ball, and was caught by Wasim Jaffer at gully.
It was a brilliant catch, but as far as Sarwan was concerned, it made no difference. Once again he was left still in search of his maiden century.
