Bravo Blocks India's Brave Victory Charge

Bravo Blocks India's Brave Victory Charge

Darren Bravo scored a vital half-century as the West Indies clung on to save the game

©REUTERS / Action Images

India 201& 269-6 (Laxman 87) drew with
West Indies 190 & 202-7 (Bravo 73)
Second Test, Barbados
Scorecard

A bold declaration from India set up a dramatic finish to the second Test against the West Indies in Barbados but in the end a combination of the weather and solid batting from the hosts ensured that the match was drawn.

India ended their second innings innings on 269 for six to set the West Indies, who closed on 202 for seven, 281 to win.

Darren Bravo played an outstanding innings of 73 in 174 balls to lead the resistance and he was excellently supported by Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who used up 87 balls in making 12, and Carlton Baugh, who made 46 not out in 61 balls to briefly entertain hopes of a home win.

A lengthy rain break after tea may not have resulted in many overs technically being lost but it did mean that they would not be bowled once the light closed in.

Ishant Sharma bagged his maiden ten-wicket haul in Tests to bowl India to the brink, taking the wickets of Adrian Barath (27), Lendl Simmons (14), Marlon Samuels (9) and Darren Sammy (0).

Bravo's vigil came to an end when he edged Abhimanyu Mithun to Dhoni but by then, he had done just enough to prevent India's victory charge.

Earlier, VVS Laxman made his way to 87 before being caught behind as India looked to accelerate and make something of a game that was dreadfully hampered by bad weather.

Virat Kohli (27) and Dhoni (5) were the other men to fall.

Laxman scored 85 in India's first innings of 201 before the West Indies were bowled out for 190 in reply, Sharma taking six for 55.

India maintain a 1-0 series lead heading to the final Test, which begins on 6th July in Dominica, thanks to a 63-run win in the opener in Jamaica.

© Cricket World 2011