Cricket: India hush-up series with innings triumph


Pragyan Ojha dismiss Darren Bravo after lunch to activate a West Indies fall down as India claim an innings and 15-run victory in the second test today to take a important 2-0 lead in the three game series.

India dismisses the West Indies for 463 in its second innings eight minutes before tea on the fourth day after the visitors resume the day at 195-3.

India, which had a huge 478-run first innings lead, faced stiff struggle from Bravo (136) and Marlon Samuels (84), before spinners Ojha and Ravichandran Ashwin took two vital 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.

The West Indies batting lineup showed a new power in its second innings as its free caress play changed the tempo of the game even although it was always destined to lose after being dismiss for only 153 in the first innings.

The West Indies was cruise at 401-4 at one stage before Ojha, Ashwin and Yadav claim a pair of wickets each to choose up the last six for just 62 runs.

"It was a extended fielding session after we got them out happily in the first innings," India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said. "We saw that the track was getting compliment and there was not anything in it for the bowlers.

"I think the first innings was ideal. After that it was a tolerance game. I thought Bravo batted very well."

Bravo was the pick of the batsman and his violence seem to rub on to others. After making 195 against Bangladesh at Mirpur last month, Bravo brings up his second test century in 12 matches.

The 22-year-old left-hander conquered the bowling and reached his century with a four, celebrating by taking off his helmet, pumping his fist in the air and waves his bat on the way to the dressing room.

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

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

His fifth-wicket partnership with Samuels made the Indian bowling look walker as they plunder 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 release Carlton Baugh for 3, before offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin attentive Samuels’s lbw in the next over to end West Indies' hopes of prolong actions.

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

"I'd like to praise the guys at the way they batted in the second innings," Sammy said. "If we put two innings jointly we can pose a challenge to other teams. India showed us how to bat on this track, it called for request. 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, resume on 21, played-on a release around the off stump much to the joy of the few thousand audience at the stadium.

The final test will be held in Mumbai from Tuesday.

Australia's West Indies tour confirmed in next year

West Indies Cricket has long-established details of Australia's tour of the Caribbean next year.


Australia will play five one-day matches, two Twenty20s and three Tests during the six-week tour.

The Test series, which decide the Frank Worrell Trophy, starts on April 7 in Barbados with follow-up matches in Trinidad (April 15 to 19) and Guyana (April 23 to 27).

It continues a heavy workload for the Australians, who begin in August with the tour of Sri Lanka.

Australia will play 14 Tests, eight T20 matches and up to 31 one-day games during an approximately incessant nine-month period.

The Windies have not won a Test series next to Australia since triumph 2-1 Down Under during 1992/93.

Their last Test victory next to the Australians was at St John's in 2003.

India on top as West Indies looks to delay predictable

A dominant India put themselves on course for a series-clinching victory even as West Indies fought resolutely in their second innings to delay the inevitable after conceding a huge 478-run lead in the second cricket Test here today.


West Indies were 195 for three at stumps on day three, still 283 runs behind, after India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni enforced the follow-on after bowling the visitors out for a paltry 153 runs in their first innings.

India had amassed a mammoth 631 for seven declared in their first essay, and then rode on Pragyan Ojha's four-wicket haul to take a massive lead.

But the West Indies then launched a spirited fightback riding on half centuries from opener Adrian Barath (62) and Kirk Edwards (60).

Darren Bravo (38, 84b, 1x4, 3x6) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (21, 40b, 3x4) were the two unbeaten batsmen at the crease at the close of play on an eventful third day.

The penultimate day's proceedings will once again begin 30 minutes earlier (8.30am) to make up for the lost time because of poor light on day two.

The visitors had two contrasting batting displays today. First, they batted like school kids to concede a huge lead, their biggest first-innings deficit since 1930 when they fell behind England by 563 runs, but in the second essay they frustrated the Indians with a dogged approach.

India still have a slim chance of bettering their biggest victory of innings and 239 runs, achieved against Bangladesh in Dhaka (2007). India's biggest margin of win over West Indies is by innings and 112 runs in Mumbai in 2002.

Resuming at 34 for two, West Indies batted poorly in the morning session to straightway hand over the advantage to the Indians.

Bangladesh prepared to tour Pakistan if ICC clear protection

Bangladesh can tour Pakistan in April next year but they need security authorization from the game’s governing body, a top official from Bangladesh Cricket Board told AFP on Wednesday.

International cricket has been balanced in Pakistan since March 2009 after an attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore which left eight people dead and seven visiting players and their assistant coach wounded.

Sri Lanka turned down an invitation to tour Pakistan in May this year following attacks on a military base in Karachi, forcing their hosts to shift the ongoing series to a neutral venue in the United Arab Emirates.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf on Monday said he was doing his level best to bring international cricket back to Pakistan and has invited Bangladesh to tour the country.

Mustafa Kamal, president of the BCB, told AFP his country can tour provided the International Cricket Council (ICC) clears security in Pakistan.

“I met Ashraf who is keen to bring cricket back to Pakistan and for that he has invited us also and we have an obligation to tour them but for that we need the ICC’s clearance on security,” Kamal said.

Under the ICC Future Tours Programme Bangladesh is due to tour Pakistan in April 2012. Kamal said he has also discussed the prospect of the tour with ICC officials.

“I am also discussing the issue with the ICC officials and since they have to send umpires and other officials for the series they are also reviewing the situation and we will also continue to discuss the matter with Pakistan,” said Kamal.

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat on Monday said Pakistan will be supported in their efforts to bring back international cricket to the country.

Kamal said the negotiations will continue with Pakistani officials who are due to tour Bangladesh soon.

“Since the Pakistan team is also touring us we have invited their officials to come and discuss the matter further,” said Kamal of the tour during which Pakistan play a Twenty20, three one-day and two Tests.

The tour starts with a Twenty20 on November 29.

Kamal said he felt for Pakistani fans who have been deprived of international cricket.

“I started (career) from Pakistan,” said Kamal of the times when Bangladesh was part of Pakistan before gaining independence in 1971.

“I know they are cricket loving people and at some point in time, someone has to tour them to give them international cricket.”

Kamal said Bangladesh was also open to send Under-19 and ‘A’ teams to Pakistan.
Bangladesh and Pakistan were also due to nominate a joint candidate for the ICC vice presidency and Kamal hoped a final name will come up in the next two weeks.