Visitors 21/2 at stumps on Day 2, lead by 116 runs
New Delhi: India’s famed batting line-up suffered a stunning collapse as an inspired West Indies gained the upperhand by taking a vital 95-run first-innings lead in the first cricket Test hereon Monday.
After restricting West Indies to 304 all out, riding on Pragyan Ojha’s career-best six for 72, the hosts’ batting collpased like a house of cards to be bundled out for a paltry 209 on an unpredictable Feroz Shah Kotla track on a day, which saw as many as 17 wickets fall.
It was a combination of poor shot selection and some spirited bowling by the West Indies that saw India’s high-profile batting-order crumble, though, many of them got the starts.
Virender Sehwag (55), Rahul Dravid (54) and Gautam Gambhir (41) were the notable scorers for the hosts who found it difficult to negotiate the Kotla track, which offered variable bounce.
Skipper Darren Sammy led the way with three for 35, while Ravi Rampaul and Devendra Bishoo chipped in with two wickets apiece. The visitors were 21 for two at close of an eventful second day’s play, extending their overall lead to 116. Kirk Edwards was batting on 15 while night-watchman Fidel Edwards was yet to open his account as they managed to negotiate Pragyan Ojha and Ravichandran Ashwin after India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni started with spin from both ends.
Kraigg Brathwaite and Kieran Powell were the two batsmen to be dismissed. (PTI)
