Ishant's career-best 6/55 gives India the edge

Bridgetown (Barbados), Jul 1 (PTI) Pacer Ishant Sharma's
career-best six-wicket haul lit up another rain-hit day as
India took a slender 11-run first innings lead over the West
Indies before reaching 23 for no loss in their second essay on
the third day of the second cricket Test here.
A superb three-wicket burst by Ishant, who grabbed a
career-best six for 55, helped India dismiss the West Indies
for 190 in their first innings yesterday.
Ishant took the last three West Indies wickets off five
balls conceding just one run to end the West Indian resistance
in the post-lunch session at the Kensington Oval.
India, after scoring 201 all out in their first innings,
were 23 for no loss from 5.4 overs in their second innings
when the stumps were drawn as only four deliveries were bowled
in the final session due to rain and bad light.
Tea was also taken 10 minutes earlier than scheduled due
to rain.
The visitors have now taken an overall 34-run lead with
all their second innings wickets intact. Openers Murali Vijay
and Abhinav Mukund will resume tomorrow on three and eight
respectively.
Altogether, 42 overs were played on Thursday, an
improvement from the 25.3 on Wednesday.
Ishant picked up the last two wickets off successive
balls -- Ravi Rampaul (0) and Fidel Edwards (0) -- after
dismissing West Indies captain Darren Sammy (15) in the
earlier over towards the close of post-lunch session to keep
India ahead in the Test.
Ishant added three more wickets on the third day to the
three he scalped on the second day to grab his second career
five-wicket haul in an innings.
Playing in his 33rd match, the 22-year-old Delhi pacer
completed his 100 wickets in Tests during his inspirational
spell when he dismissed Sammy for his fourth wicket of the
innings in the post-lunch session.
West Indies were marvelously served by returning batsman
Marlon Samuels who remained unbeaten on 78 from 178 balls with
eight fours.
The home side were 189 for eight when the rain started in
the post-lunch session and immediately on resumption, they
lost their final two wickets for a mere one run.
India though had to labour for wickets as the West
Indies, led by a resolute Samuels, denied them much success in
the morning session.
The visitors got just one wicket in the opening session
in the form of Chanderpaul, who fell to rookie pacer Abhimanyu
Mithun in the penultimate over before lunch.
India struck at the fag end of the opening session to
reduce the West Indies to 138 for six.
Overnight batsmen Chanderpaul and Samuels batted
resolutely for most part of the third morning, the start of
which was delayed due to rain, by adding 36 runs in 17.4 overs
before India got the breakthrough by removing the former in
the penultimate over before lunch.
Rookie pacer Mithun claimed the scalp of a steadfast
Chanderpaul (37). Chanderpaul was unlucky to edge a pull off a
delivery which did not rise and crashed into his stumps.
West Indies, who resumed at 98 for five in reply to
India's 201 all out, added 40 runs from 19.3 overs possible in
the morning session.
Chanderpaul and Samuels added 77 runs for the sixth
wicket. Till Chanderpaul's dismissal, West Indies had shown a
rare batting resolve.
Early showers once again delayed the start of the third
day's play by an hour but the West Indian pair lost little
time in falling into their groove.
Ishant Sharma steamed in and his new-ball partner Praveen
Kumar showed his characteristic energy but the unruffled pair
were determined to hang around at the crease. PTI AS
RCJ