India take slender lead, Ishant gets career best

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BARBADOS: A superb three-wicket burst by speedster Ishant Sharma, who grabbed career-best six for 55, helped India dismiss the West Indies for 190 in their first innings and put themselves into a comfortable position on the rain-affected third day of second cricket Test here.

Ishant took the last three West Indies wickets off five balls for just one run to end the West Indian resistance in the post-lunch session to give India a slender 11-run first innings lead at Kensington Oval.

India, who had scored 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.

He 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 rains came 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 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 third day morning whose start 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 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 which was the most resolute batting put up by the hosts in the series so far.

Till Chanderpaul's dismissal, West Indies had showed 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.


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