Dramatic finish to series
MUMBAI: After a run-feast of 1,153 runs on the first four days, the final day's play was not for faint-hearted spectators as it went down to the wire.
Seventeen wickets fell for 295 runs, as there were twists and turns before the match ended in a draw. Set a target of 243 in 64 overs, India finished with 242 for 9. Ravichandran Ashwin (13) nearly pulled off an India win, but was denied the second run off the last ball of the match by substitute fielder Denesh Ramdin, whose throw from long-on had the Indian batsman short of crease.
But what a turnaround it was to be on the final day. In the end, it was a special Test match at a historic venue. Ashwin (4 for 34) and Pragyan Ojha (6 for 47) wove their magic in no uncertain terms to turn the third test on its head and give India a whiff of a possible victory.
When play commenced on Saturday, very few would have ventured to give India a chance to make a comeback. But the twosome forged an awesome combination to turn the wheel of fortune their way with some sustained spin wizardry.
West Indies wickets collapsed like ninepins as the visitors lost eight wickets for 53 runs, to become all out for 134 in 57.2 overs in their second innings.
If off-spinner Ashwin was all guile and wile, left-arm spinner Ojha pegged away with craft and seductively tossed-up deliveries. Opening the bowling in what has become a familiar happening on Indian wickets, Ojha justified the faith reposed in him.
After removing Adrian Barath and Kirk Edwards on Friday evening, Ojha began his demolition job by removing Kraigg Brathwaite in the fifth over with a ball that surprised the batsman with extra bounce. The leading edge was taken at point.
Ojha also lured Darren Bravo (return catch) and Marlon Samuels (stumped) to doom with flighted deliveries.
Introduced late in the day, Ashwin bowled Carlton Baugh with a classical off spin delivery that beat the batsman's defence to rattle the stumps. Ashwin ended left-hander Kieran Powell's brief resistance by trapping him in front and then scalped the wicket of skipper Darren Sammy.
Brief scores: West Indies 590 (Bravo 166, K Edwards 86, Powell 81, Ashwin 5-156) & 134 (Ojha 6-47, Ashwin 4-34) drew with India 482 (Ashwin 103, Tendulkar 94, Dravid 82) & 242 for 9 (Kohli 63, Sehwag 60).
News Posted: 27 November, 2011
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