Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

Kingston Test: India beat Windies by 63 runs, lead series 1-0

Last updated on: June 24, 2011 08:15 IST

Scorecard

India scored a comprehensive 63-run victory over the West Indies in the first Test at Sabina Park, Kingston, on Thursday.

Needing an improbable 326 to win, the West Indies could score just 262 in their second innings.

The win helped India take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

With just one wicket needed in the day's second session, the visitors had to endure the hosts' tail-enders longer than expected -- Fidel Edwards (15 not out) and Devendra Bishoo (26) frustrated the Indian bowlers for considerable time before the latter saw a Suresh Raina delivery roll towards the stumps and dislodge the bail.

The duo survived 12.3 overs, adding 39 runs for the final wicket.

Bishoo, dropped on two by Dhoni, went to score a calculated 26, his highest score in Tests, and help his side reduce the defeat margin.  

Earlier, a superb effort by the Indian bowling quartet got India on the brink of a convincing victory, having the West Indies were reeling at 226 for nine at lunch.

Needing a further 195 runs to win, with seven wickets in hand, the West Indies lost six wickets for the addition of 95 runs in the morning session. 

Praveen Kumar (3-41) struck a couple of decisive blows during his morning spell, removing Darren Bravo (41, 89 balls, 7x4) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (30, 73 balls, 4x4) in quick succession, after their 68-run stand for the fourth wicket.

From 148 for three, the hosts were suddenly struggling at 149 for five.

With the track deteriorating -- some deliveries jumped from the good length spot while a few kept very low -- it was a struggle for survival for the West Indian batsmen. None of the lower-middle order batsmen, save Ravi Rampaul (34, 32 balls, 6x4, 1x6), showed stomach for a fight. 

The first half an hour didn't have any indication of what was to follow as Praveen got into the act. Bravo, who had looked confident, shuffled across the stumps as Praveen angled one into him and found his leg-stump going for a toss. 

Chanderpaul was one man who the West Indies could have been depended on his doggedness, but he too perished when a Praveen delivery stopped and came to him as he committed into a cover drive. All he could do was lob a simple catch to Suresh Raina. It was virtually all over for the Caribbeans.

Carlton Baugh (0) was done in by an off-break from Harbhajan that kicked and took his glove off to the leg-slip. Darren Sammy (25, 11 balls, 1x4, 3x6) came in and blasted Harbhajan for three consecutive sixes but didn't have enough patience to survive.

Amit Mishra got into the act. His flighted delivery dipped in late, as Sammy failed to check his shot and offered a simple catch to VVS Laxman at cover.

West Indies vice-captain Brendan Nash (9) never looked a part of the proceedings during his 36-ball stay. Struggling this season and finding it difficult to negotiate both pace and spin, he was just trying to push and prod with tail-enders for support.

Failing to get the ball out of square, Nash missed a long hop from Mishra; the ball kept low and hit him plumb on the shin.

Nash was the eighth West Indies wicket to fall.

Rampaul carried on a grim battle along with Fidel Edwards for company. He hit a few clean blows as the ninth wicket partnership yielded 35 runs and helped the West Indies cross the 200-run mark.

Ishant Sharma, who came back for his second spell, bowled a few needless short-pitched stuff to Rampaul. However, the delivery that got Rampaul was a snorter that suddenly rose from short of good length. The batsman couldn't get out of the way and it kissed his gloves on the way to Dhoni, who had to jump high in order to take a smart one-handed catch.