India ended the fourth day of the second Test match against West Indies on 229 for the loss of three wickets, which effectively ended any chance that the West Indian side may have had of forcing a win. With only one day to go and the West Indians needing to first pick up the remaining visitors’ wickets and then score the requisite runs, things do not look too optimistic for a levelling of the series for the home team.
India, though, have pulled themselves into a very strong position. They resumed the fourth day at 23 without loss but lost Murali Vijay very early in the day. Vijay only managed to score three before his swish off Ravi Rampaul was taken by the wicket-keeper Carlton Baugh.
However, that was the only success that the West Indians had for a long period of time. Abhinav Mukund showed commendable grit and in company with Rahul Dravid, not only added 63 for the second wicket but also used up almost 23 overs to do so. Mukund scored 48 before a brutish delivery from Fidel Edwards kicked up, took the shoulder of his bat and saw him edge it to the slips.
With the new-ball pair of Edwards and Rampaul blunted out, it was the Dravid-Laxman show yet again. The pair was involved in another of their fifty-run stands and although Dravid was dismissed for 55, the Indians had raced off to 154 and the chances of the West Indian fightback on a tiring day looked bleak.
Both Laxman (72*) and Virat Kohli saw through to the end of the day’s play and it will now need the Indians to look for options to turn the tables and hunt for a win. An early declaration could be the order of the day, but it must be said that the Indian captain MS Dhoni could also be looking at ensuring that the Indians are in an absolutely safe position in the first place. A target of 350 off 70 overs could just be what the side may be looking at.
However, for that to happen, India will need to bat much quicker than what they have done in the second innings, having scored 229 in 89 overs. Time for Kohli and then Suresh Raina to get some big hits going.