India secure series win over West Indies

Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, presents man of the match medal to India’s V.V.S.Laxman [AFP]

The Indian cricket team go from strength to strength as they followed up their crushing one-day series win over England with a dominating Test victory over the West Indies on Thursday.

Pragyan Ojha dismissed Darren Bravo after lunch to trigger a West Indies collapse as India claimed an innings and 15-run victory in the second Test to take a decisive 2-0 lead in the three game series.

India dismissed the West Indies for 463 in their second innings eight minutes before tea on the fourth day after the visitors resumed the day at 195-3.

India, who had a massive 478-run first innings lead, faced stiff resistance from Bravo (136) and Marlon Samuels (84), before spinners Ojha and Ravichandran Ashwin took two crucial wickets each to regain control.

It was then left to pace bowler Umesh Yadav to help remove the tail and finish with figures of 4-80.

“I think the first innings was perfect. After that it was a patience game.” Indian captain Dhoni

The West Indies batting line-up showed a new strength in their second innings as their free stroke play changed the tempo of the game even though they were always doomed to lose after being dismissed for only 153 in the first innings.

The West Indies were cruising at 401-4 at one stage before Ojha, Ashwin and Yadav claimed a pair of wickets each to pick up the last six for just 62 runs.

“It was a long fielding session after we got them out comfortably in the first innings,” India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said.

“We saw that the track was getting flatter and there was nothing in it for the bowlers.

“I think the first innings was perfect. After that it was a patience game. I thought Bravo batted very well.”

Bravo bravo

Bravo was the pick of the batsman and his aggression seemed to rub on to others. After making 195 against Bangladesh at Mirpur last month, Bravo brought up his second Test century in 12 matches.

The 22-year-old left-hander dominated the bowling and reached his century with a four, celebrating by taking off his helmet, pumping his fist in the air and waving his bat toward the dressing room.

Bravo earlier survived a chance on 54 when Gautam Gambhir’s throw from mid-off went wide of wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni with the batsman almost at the other end.

Then on 119, he was given not out when replays showed a clear bat-pad catch taken by Gambhir at short-leg off left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha.

Darren Bravo was the pick of the West Indies batsmen knocking up 136 runs [AFP]

His fifth-wicket partnership with Samuels made the Indian bowling look pedestrian as they plundered 132 runs off 158 deliveries before Bravo was out caught to a low catch by Rahul Dravid at slip off left-arm spinner Ojha.

Dravid also took a fine one-handed catch to his right off Ojha to dismiss Carlton Baugh for 3, before offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin trapped Samuels lbw in the next over to end West Indies’ hopes of prolonging proceedings.

Captain Darren Sammy made a dashing 32 off 37 balls with one four and three sixes, but the end was always inevitable.

“I’d like to commend the guys at the way they batted in the second innings,” Sammy said.

“If we put two innings together we can pose a challenge to other teams. India showed us how to bat on this track, it called for application. Bravo batted superbly.”

Earlier, Chanderpaul, seen as the visiting side’s best hope of putting up a resistance, was dismissed when he seemed to be settled in for another big innings.

Chanderpaul hit six fours off 94 balls before he was dismissed by Yadav with the second new ball. Chanderpaul, resuming on 21, played-on a delivery around the off stump much to the joy of the few thousand spectators at the
stadium.

The final Test will be held in Mumbai from Tuesday.