Dravid Sets Bourda Alight with Superb Ton

On a day rudely cut short by rain and stormy weather, a magnificent hundred from Rahul Dravid lit up the Bourda Oval. At one stage - having collapsed to 275 for 7 - India were staring the follow-on full in the face, but some gorgeous strokes from Dravid?s blade got them past the 302 required.

From there on, it was all plain sailing. Credit too to Sarandeep Singh (38 not out), who rode his luck early on, but showed tremendous character while adding 120 runs with his senior partner.

The rain clouds had been hovering with menace for a while, but the moment they hit the ground, one knew that chances of further play were slim to non-existent. It was most disappointing for the Indians, who dominated the afternoon session as the hosts visibly wilted.

The West Indian tactics were bizarre to say the least. Sarandeep was hardly tested with the short ball and Cameron Cuffy, for one, could have auditioned for the role of Mother Teresa for all the intimidation the batsmen had to cope with. The proceedings in the middle had an air of inevitability about them. The match was clearly heading for a draw and it showed in the attitude of the players. Mervyn Dillon finally bounced Sarandeep Singh but by then, he was so well ensconced that he barely batted an eyelid.

That shouldn?t detract though from what was a quite masterful innings from Dravid. His unbeaten 144 was a triumph of technique, patience and class on a pitch that bears plenty of gifts for anyone willing to give it the time of day. Dravid?s tenth Test ton was easily one of his most important and it allowed India to save face after an abysmal mid-morning collapse strained the nerves in an already jittery dressing room. He blossomed in the company of Sarandeep - who looked every inch a bunny at times - and he deserves special praise for the manner in which he regained focus after being struck a nasty blow on the helmet grille by Dillon early in the morning.

The pain of the bruised jaw was forgotten though when he clipped Adam Sanford sweetly off his pads to bring up three figures. He had got within touching distance of the landmark with some aplomb, a gorgeous straight-drive off Dillon followed by a superbly timed push to the mid-on fence off Mahendra Nagamootoo. The hundred took him 250 balls but given the trying circumstances, those figures were irrelevant.

The follow-on was averted amid a flurry of activity. A magnificent off-driven four from Dravid, off Dillon, got India past 302, after a tense few minutes. With Sarandeep showing a marked reluctance to move his feet and giving his teammates heartburn with some airy-fairy shots, it was up to Dravid to take charge of the situation.

He did that by square-driving Sanford for a boundary before playing a glorious cover-drive later in the over. Another superb off-drive off Cameron Cuffy got India closer and Sarandeep eased some nerves with an edge past point for three runs when Dillon pitched up.

India started the morning at 237 for 4 and VVS Laxman was in fluent touch early on. Dillon began the morning in fiery fashion, testing Laxman with some short, quick deliveries. Laxman?s response was emphatic, an exquisite cover-drive for four taking him to fifty. In Dillon?s next over, he played a cracking cut backward-of-point, though he was fortunate not to play on when he chopped one back onto his pads.

With Hooper not taking the initiative in terms of setting attacking fields, Laxman threatened to seize the moment, before Cameron Cuffy struck to tilt the match once more in West Indies?s favour. He induced Laxman to drive away from his body to give Chris Gayle a regulation catch at first slip - a good comeback from the bowler after being cut powerfully past point for four earlier in the over. Laxman made 69 (263 for 5).

Moments later, Cuffy was again the toast of the home support, sending back Sanjay Bangar with a delivery that pitched outside off and nipped back a shade before rapping the front pad. Easy decision for the umpire to make and Bangar?s first innings in the West Indies ended with the dreaded nought next to his name (270 for 6).

The innings continued to unravel as quickly as a frayed pullover. New boy Sanford came on to pick up his second wicket of the innings, as Anil Kumble cut away from his body and Nagamootoo took a good tumbling catch at point. Kumble made just 3, and India were down to the bare bones at 275 for 7. Thankfully for the tourists, Dravid chose the occasion to do a Gavaskar. And to be honest, this was an innings that the original master would have been proud to claim as his own.

SOURCE: Wisden Online.