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Rediff.com  » Cricket » Barbados Test: Ishant stars on rain-affected day

Barbados Test: Ishant stars on rain-affected day

Last updated on: July 01, 2011 15:03 IST
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Scorecard:

India were 23 without loss in their second innings when play was stopped because of rain and bad light on the third day of the second cricket Test against the West Indies in Bridgetown on Thursday.

Abhinav Mukund was batting on eight and Murali Vijay on three, as the visitors extended their overall lead to 34.

Play did not resume even after tea, and when it eventually did, Rampaul could bowl just four deliveries. Only 5.4 overs were possible in the Indian second innings before the umpire's decided no further play was possible during the day.

Earlier, the West Indies were dismissed for 190 in their first innings, giving the visitors a lead of 11 runs.

Marlon Samuels was the best West Indies batsman, remaining unbeaten on a well-made 78.

It was Ishant Sharma who excelled with the ball for India. The 22-year-old registered career-best figures of six for 55 to ensure his side a slender but vital lead. It was just the second five-wicket haul for the young bowler.

His fourth wicket of the innings (Carlton Baugh) was his 100th Test wicket. In doing so he became the 17th Indian, and 157th bowler, overall, to achieve the milestone.

Overnight batsmen Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Samuels batted resolutely for most part of third day morning, the start of which was delayed due to rain, adding 36 runs in 17.4 overs before India got the breakthrough, removing the former in the penultimate over before lunch at the Kensington Oval.

Rookie pacer Abhimanyu Mithun claimed the scalp of the steadfast Chanderpaul (37), who was unlucky to edge a pull off a delivery that did not rise and crashed into his stumps.

The West Indies, who resumed at 98 for five in reply to India's 201 all out, added 40 runs from the 19.3 overs possible in the morning session and they trailed by 63 runs with their four first innings wickets remaining.

At the break, Samuels was batting on 43 while Carlton Baugh was giving him company on one.

Chanderpaul and Samuels added 77 runs for the sixth wicket,?the most resolute batting put up by the hosts in the series so far.

Till Chanderpaul's dismissal, the West Indies had showed a rare batting resolve.

Early showers once again delayed the start of the third day's play by an hour but the West Indian pair lost little time in falling into their groove.

Ishant steamed in and his new-ball partner Praveen Kumar showed his characteristic energy but the unruffled pair was determined to hang around at the crease.

Runs were difficult to come by and Chanderpaul had a few anxious moments against rising deliveries of Ishant but there were no undue alarms for the hosts.

Chanderpaul once hooked Ishant to the fine leg boundary but was generally less happy against the rising deliveries of the tall bowler.

Samuels was tested on his off-stump but showed good judgment of leaving the away deliveries, but for once when he fiercely cut Ishant to the point boundary.

Ishant bowled seven overs on the trot and gave away 18 runs before being replaced by Abhimanyu Mithun at the far end, 15 minutes before the lunch break.

Harbhajan Singh was brought in to bowl in the 47th over, the first genuine spell for the off-spinner, who promptly bowled a maiden to Chanderpaul.

Harbhajan had success after the break, having Baugh Jr (2) caught by Dravid. Samuels and Darren Sammy (15) put on 43 runs for the eight wicket before Ishant had thge West Indies skipper out leg before. It was Ishant's 100th Test wicket.

After a brief rain break, Ishant returned to have Ravi Rampaul (0) caught by Murali Vijay at gully. And in the next ball he had Fidel Edwards caught behind.

The West Indies, despite a valiant rearguard effort, had conceded a 11-run first innings lead.

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