A game of Cricket can have so many unexpected twists! And the test match between India and West Indies did nothing but prove the above statement. Extreme cricketing skills were shown by Ishant Sharma, Darren Bravo and the dashing Carlton Baugh. And yet again, India lost its chance to beat the host at Barbados.
Twisted fate produces a real hero – Ishant Sharma
Bravo and Baugh were holding the reigns of West Indies frightfully under control. The match was excellently poised when rain interrupted with the West Indies at 181 for five after 64.3 overs. After the rain, when the match resumed, the host needed 100 more runs from 17.3 overs with five wickets in hand. Abhimanyu Mithun then took Bravo (73) who attempted to glide a back-of-a-length delivery outsides the off-stump. And Darren Sammy fell for leg-before with a scorching in swinger from Ishant Sharma.
West Indies were rocked early by the Indian strikes and fought hard for survival. Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Bravo bailed them out of this situation. Harbhajan Singh provided the breakthrough by taking the wicket of Chanderpaul soon after tea. The left-hander was hit on the back leg as he shaped to play across, but the replays showed the ball missing the off-stump. The West Indies had suffered a blow as Shivnarine was a very important wicket.
Pursuing 281 in a minimum of 83 overs the West Indies were 202 for seven when the rain-interrupted after the issues of poor lighting.
Harbhajan did not turn out to be a consistent threat on a surface although he got lucky with odd deliveries; but he struggled a lot with his length. But then Ishant Sharma won’t rest at all, he defeated Marlon Samuels by a delivery angled into him from the lanky paceman. The right-hander played the wrong line and it was a verdict for a leg before was marginal. The West Indies team at 132 for five was under considerable pressure and then it was Bravo and Baugh who provided a new dimension to the game.
Indian Captain Dhoni was very confident with the declaration of 280 as the target but felt that the poor light and the rain spoilt the game. The match finished soon after 71.3 overs and Ishant Sharma was adjudged Player of the Match for bowling with searing intensity. He made the first ten-wicket haul of his Test and bowled with exemplary commitment and skill. Ironically, the arena got filled with bright sunlight moments after the players shook hands after the match!
Tags: Cricket, Harbhajan Singh, India, Ishant Sharma, Test Match, West Indies
