Dravid century bolsters India in Kingston test
Source: Agencies |
June 24, 2011, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
RAHUL Dravid made a painstakingly slow but masterful century to put India in a strong position to win the first test against the West Indies at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica, on Wednesday.
Dravid, showing all the patience and sublime skill built up over a 15-year test career, batted for almost six and a half hours to compile 112 in a low-scoring match where both teams have struggled to score freely.
His performance enabled the tourists to post a second-innings total of 252 and set West Indies a daunting target of 326 to win the series opener.
The hosts racked up 131 to reduce their target to 195 by the time stumps were drawn on the third day but lost three wickets in the process, leaving India in control of a match seemingly destined to finish early.
Dravid's hundred was his 32nd in tests and his fourth against the West Indies and the 38-year-old provided his younger teammates with a lesson in resilience as he cautiously navigated his way to triple figures on a pitch offering assistance to the spinners.
None of the other batsman got to 30 while Darren Sammy and Devendra Bishoo were the pick of the West Indian bowlers, capturing four wickets each.
India started the third day on 91-3 but lost Virat Kohli (15), Suresh Raina (27) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (16) in the morning session as Dravid took his overnight score from 45 to 69.
Content to bat cautiously and occupy the crease, Dravid accelerated in the middle session, reaching his ton off 252 balls before becoming the last wicket to fall.
The West Indies made a flying start to their run chase when Adrian Barath and Lendl Simmons brought up their 50 partnership in just 55 balls before India made three quick strikes, removing Barath (38), Simmons (27) and Ramnaresh Sarwan, for no score, to leave the home side reeling at 80-3.
Darren Bravo (30 not out) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (24 not out) added 51 in an unbroken stand for the fourth wicket to guide the home team to the close without further casualties and give it some hope of reaching the target on the fourth day.
Dravid, showing all the patience and sublime skill built up over a 15-year test career, batted for almost six and a half hours to compile 112 in a low-scoring match where both teams have struggled to score freely.
His performance enabled the tourists to post a second-innings total of 252 and set West Indies a daunting target of 326 to win the series opener.
The hosts racked up 131 to reduce their target to 195 by the time stumps were drawn on the third day but lost three wickets in the process, leaving India in control of a match seemingly destined to finish early.
Dravid's hundred was his 32nd in tests and his fourth against the West Indies and the 38-year-old provided his younger teammates with a lesson in resilience as he cautiously navigated his way to triple figures on a pitch offering assistance to the spinners.
None of the other batsman got to 30 while Darren Sammy and Devendra Bishoo were the pick of the West Indian bowlers, capturing four wickets each.
India started the third day on 91-3 but lost Virat Kohli (15), Suresh Raina (27) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (16) in the morning session as Dravid took his overnight score from 45 to 69.
Content to bat cautiously and occupy the crease, Dravid accelerated in the middle session, reaching his ton off 252 balls before becoming the last wicket to fall.
The West Indies made a flying start to their run chase when Adrian Barath and Lendl Simmons brought up their 50 partnership in just 55 balls before India made three quick strikes, removing Barath (38), Simmons (27) and Ramnaresh Sarwan, for no score, to leave the home side reeling at 80-3.
Darren Bravo (30 not out) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (24 not out) added 51 in an unbroken stand for the fourth wicket to guide the home team to the close without further casualties and give it some hope of reaching the target on the fourth day.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔＄粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
