India vs WI, 2nd Test, Day 4

India vs WI, 2nd Test, Day 4

The West Indies would be rather pleased with their performance in the first session, with centurion Darren Bravo leading the way. Lunch has been taken.

 

LUNCH: West Indies are 339 for 4 in 98 overs, still trailing by 139 runs.
Earlier, Darren Bravo leaped high in the air in celebration after he completed his 2nd Test century that was well deserved and fighting in nature. Incidently, it is the 10th century by a West Indies batsman while following on!
The West Indies were earlier dealt a huge blow after Umesh Yadav castled Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who perished playing a lazy shot. The visitors lost their best chance to save the Test.

Over 83.5: Chanderpaul b Yadav (47) The West Indian's mainstay has the capability to stonewall any attack but Umesh Yadav is on song! Yadav castled Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who was sent back to the pavilion after he perished playing an uncharastically sluggish shot. He got an inside-edge and the ball went on to hit the stumps.

The second new ball is in play.
India need six more wickets to beat the West Indies after the tourists were forced to follow on.
The wicket has become excruciatingly slow and it is proving to be very difficult for the Indian bowlers to make regular inroads, unlike on the third day. Patience is the key!
A determined Darren Bravo earlier recorded his 7th Test fifty and the 3rd against India.
The spinning star, Pragyan Ojha, maintains, "Today, we hope there is moisture in the wicket and it assists our goal." He further added: "We are bowling according to a plan and hitting the right areas. We are certain to close the match today."
Meanwhile, the West Indies will need to bat for almost five sessions - improbable, though not an impossibility - to save the ignonimy of surrendering within four days. The visitors were clinical and played with a lot of application to thwart the Indian attack and close the day at a commendable 195 for 3. Sustaining the momentum would be the key!
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Brief Day Two report

The Windies were dismissed for 153 in their first innings Wednesday morning to trail by 478 runs, but at least, put up a better show second time around to reach 195 for three at the close of play.
However, that still left them trailing by 283 runs with two days remaining and needing an heroic rearguard action to avoid defeat.
After Kraigg Brathwaite became the first man to fall in the second innings - the opener caught behind for nine off the bowling of Umesh Yadav - the visitors steadied the ship and reached tea on 116 for one thanks to Adrian Barath (62 not out) and Kirk Edwards (43no).
However, Barath was dismissed straight after the interval without a run being added to the total, caught by VVS Laxman off the bowling of Ishant Sharma.
Edwards and Darren Bravo added 45 for the third wicket before Edwards (60) was trapped lbw by Sharma, but Bravo (38 not out) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (21no) survived until the close.
After losing openers Barath for one and Brathwaite (17) before bad light forced a premature end to yesterday's play, number three batsman Edwards followed suit for 16 when he was trapped lbw playing across the line to slow left-armer Ojha.
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin snared the crucial wicket of Chanderpaul for four soon after, also lbw.
That left the Windies 46 for four and brought together Bravo and Samuels in the middle. The pair produced the tourists' best partnership - 46 - but the wickets kept tumbling thereafter.
Left-hander Bravo was bowled off an inside edge by Yadav and Samuels fell to the same player, bowled past the outside edge in the right-arm fast-medium bowler's next over.
Captain Darren Sammy was another who looked to have played himself in but departed for 18, wicketkeeper Dhoni snapping up a bottom edge off Ojha.
Kemar Roach (two) and Carlton Baugh (13) perished in consecutive balls in the 41st over, bowled by Ojha. The former was run out while the latter was given lbw.
Fidel Edwards and last man Devendra Bishoo (eight not out) stuck around for a while in a last-wicket stand of 24 before Edwards became Ojha's fourth victim, also lbw, for 16.