India close in on victory despite fine century from Edwards

Roseau (Dominica), Jul 10 (PTI) Debutante Kirk Edwards
scored a gritty century but Harbhajan Singh's twin strike
reduced West Indies to 224 for six at stumps as India closed
in on a memorable victory on the penultimate day of the third
and final cricket Test here.
Resuming at an overnight score of 308 for six in reply to
hosts' first innings total of 204, India finished their first
essay at 347 Saturday.
Starting at a deficit of 143 runs, the West Indies ended
the day with a lead of 81 runs, thanks to some brilliant
batting on debut by Edwards, but they only have four wickets
remaining going into the final day after Harbhajan removed
Edwards (110) and Marlon Samuels (0) in the same over.
With Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni opting for the
second new ball, Praveen Kumar removed the dangerous Carlton
Baugh (10) in the last over of the day to get his second
scalp.
It was the 161-run third wicket partnership between
Edwards and Shivanarine Chanderpaul (73 batting) that made the
Caribbean batting look a lot better than what it appeared till
now.
The debutant didn't take any undue risk during his
innings although he played a few pull shots whenever it was
pitched short. He faced 195 balls hitting nine boundaries and
a pulled six off part-time leggie Mukund.
Edwards should consider himself lucky that he was able to
reach the three-figure mark as he set out for a single pushing
the ball to mid-off.
As Edwards was sent back by Chanderpaul, Harbhajan's
throw deflected off his boots and resultant overthrow helped
him become 13th West Indian batsman to score century on debut.
However, it was Harbhajan who finally broke the
partnership that lasted 56.1 overs when Edwards trying to cut
edged it to Dhoni. After a couple of deliveries, Marlon
Samuels was adjudged leg before by umpire Kettleborough when
the delivery looked like missing off.
From a comfortable 201 for three, the Windies slumped to
201 for five in no time. Baugh's dismissal in the final over
was also a blow for the home team as it now depends on
Chanderpaul to delay the inevitable unless the Weather Gods
play spoilsport.
Edwards admirably filled in the big shoes of experienced
Ramnaresh Sarwan, dropped for this Test, as he took it upon
himself to resurrect the innings when the home team were
reeling at 40 for three.
The debutant showed admirable focus and a tight
technique, without ever missing out on possibility of runs.
He walked in to bat with scoreboard reading 8 for one,
after opener Kieran Powell was out, and soon he found two more
batsmen being back in the hut as Indians looked to make short
work of the hosts.
Opener Adrian Barath (6) was caught at fourth slip off
Praveen while Darren Bravo (14) was holed out at mid-off as
West Indies raised spectre of yet another miserable batting
display.
The visitors though hadn't reckoned with Edwards, wrongly
adjudged caught in the first innings. The doggedness and
resolve of Chanderpaul was another aspect that made life
difficult for the visitors.
The duo batted a wee bit slowly during the initial overs
but once the visitors flagged, they began hitting out of
trouble.
The Indians after a point of time seemed having resigned
themselves to the second new ball much before it was due as
the pitch eased out.
Edwards appeared very good with his cover drives and
pulls and scored at will in the final session.
He was the dominant of the two partners and raised his
half century from 87 balls with five fours while Chanderpaul
was still in his 20s.
Chanderpaul had a lucky break on 25, when the total was
116 for 3, with Rahul Dravid dropping him at first slip off
Harbhajan in the final over before tea.
The final session showed little change in pattern but
for final 30 minutes as West Indies first wiped out the
deficit and then went for a handy lead.
Chanderpaul, who dabbed, pushed and nudged for his runs,
finally freed his arms and first straight drove Praveen Kumar
and then on-drove Harbhajan for boundaries.
Edwards enjoyed a 'life' when a Harbhajan delivery hit
the back of his bat and went to slips where Dravid was taken
aback by the chance and let it go.
Earlier, West Indian speedster Fidel Edwards picked up
yet another five-wicket haul but India still built a lead of
143 runs over the hosts.
The day began 15 minutes late due to early showers and
there was another brief interruption of 15 minutes but it
still was an action-packed morning.
India were all out after 10-odd overs of play, having
resumed at 308 for 6, with West Indies conceding only 39
further runs.
Edwards picked up 5 for 103 in a courageous effort of
28-odd overs in searing heat. This is his second successive
five-wicket haul and he now has 18 wickets from the series.
The procession of batsmen began from the second ball of
the morning itself when Harbhajan Singh misconnected a pull
off Edwards and wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh strolled across on
the onside for the simplest of chances.
The other overnight batsman, skipper Dhoni (74) and new
man Praveen (23) then batted aggressively to add 31 runs from
47 balls for the eighth wicket.
Praveen was the more aggressive of the two, as he picked
up two boundaries in one Edwards over, a thrust down the
midwicket fence and a Chinese cut past his stumps, before he
lashed a six off leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo.
Dhoni himself drove a shot over mid-off fielder as runs
came at a fast clip. A brief rain interruption though
disrupted the run-making pattern as Dhoni pulled an Edwards
delivery into the hands of deep square leg fielder after
resumption.
The skipper batted for 133 balls and hit four fours in
the process.
Praveen's entertaining knock ended when he swished at a
delivery from Bishoo and gave a catch to the point fielder.
Edwards then accounted for Ishant Sharma to bring a lid
over the Indian innings. PTI AS
KAP