Wednesday 29 June 2011

India, Windies share Day One honours

India, Windies share Day One honours
Thirteen wickets fell on an eventful first day of the second Test at the Kensington Oval, with the final three looking to have given India a slight edge against West Indies.
The hosts lost Adrian Barath, Lendl Simmons and Darren Bravo to finish the day on 30 for three in response to the tourists' total of 201.
Ravi Rampaul, Devendra Bishoo and Fidel Edwards took three wickets apiece for the Windies, with the only noteworthy batting contributions for India coming from VVS Laxman (85) and Suresh Raina (53).
Rampaul ripped through the tourists' top order in the first session, claiming three wickets for four runs to leave India 44 for four at lunch.
Laxman (85) and Raina (53) steadied the ship in a wicketless second session, but the hosts came roaring back after tea to turn 147 for four into 201 all out.
Windies captain Darren Sammy won the toss on an overcast morning in Barbados, and his decision to bowl first soon paid dividends.
Abhinav Mukund (one) departed in the second over, lobbing a simple catch to Marlon Samuels at gully off the bowling of Rampaul.
Rahul Dravid did not fare much better, contributing five before edging a superb delivery from Sammy to wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh who took it in front of first slip.
Rampaul was re-introduced to the home team's attack in the 26th over and had the desired impact straight away, snaring two wickets in his first three balls.
First he stunned Murali Vijay with some extra bounce and had the opener caught behind for 11, then Virat Kohli - shuffling across his crease and offering a nothing shot - was gobbled up at second slip by Sammy before he could trouble the scorers.
That brought Laxman and Raina together in the middle just before lunch with the score on 38 for four, and they shared a 117-run stand for the fifth wicket to get the tourists back on track.
Laxman completed his 50th Test half-century off 75 balls including eight fours and was 69 not out at tea, with Raina unbeaten on 52.
Raina added just one run after tea before reluctantly heading back to the pavilion after failing to control a delivery from Bishoo that bounced awkwardly around leg stump. The ball lobbed up off his pad and, although replays did not seem to show any contact with the bat, Barath took the catch at forward short leg and Raina was given out.
Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (two) soon followed suit, offering a straightforward catch to Shivnarine Chanderpaul at mid-on off the bowling of Edwards.
The same combination linked up again to see off Harbhajan Singh for five, Barath rushing in to take a fine low catch.
Veteran Laxman eventually fell to Bishoo when 15 runs short of his century, caught by Barath at backward point.
Abhimanyu Mithun became Edwards' third victim when he was bowled for a duck and then Praveen Kumar (12) was stumped by Baugh off the bowling of Bishoo as India's innings reached a swift conclusion.
West Indies' response got off to a shaky start with openers Barath and Simmons gone within five overs.
Barath (three) was the first to fall, guiding a weak shot into the hands of Kohli at gully in Ishant Sharma's second over.
Simmons perished in the following over, Kumar inducing an outside edge which was snapped up by Dhoni.
The hosts suffered a further setback in the final over of the day when Mithun claimed his first Test wicket, having Bravo caught behind for nine to leave the hosts 30 for three and trailing by 171. Ramnaresh Sarwan was 10 not out with Bishoo unbeaten on nought.

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