Kolkata: India clinched the three-match Test series against the West Indies after crushing the hapless visitors by an innings and 15 runs in the second match to take an unassailable 2-0 lead here on Thursday.
The West Indies put up a strong fightback in their second innings with Darren Bravo (136) slamming a superb century but that turned out to be not enough as Indian bowlers grabbed six wickets in the post-lunch session to wrap up the match on the fourth day at the Eden Gardens.
The match ended with more than four sessions to spare, just like in the first Test in New Delhi where India beat the visitors by five wickets.
The two sides now travel to Mumbai for the third Test which begins on November 22.
In contrast to their first innings collapse, West Indies, after being asked to follow on, put up a valiant fight before being bundled out for 463 in 126.3 overs eight minutes before the scheduled tea break.
At one stage, the West Indies were staring at their biggest ever loss against India (an innings and 112 runs, Mumbai 2002) but Bravo weaved two century partnerships — with Chanderpaul (108 runs) and Marlon Samuels (132) — to save his side from the dubious record.
Resuming at his overnight score of 38, Bravo put up a superb batting display to notch up his second Test century in less than a month with both coming in second innings. He hit 16 boundaries and four sixes in his innings from 230 balls.
For India, pacer Umesh Yadav was the most successful bowler with three wickets on Thursday to return with innings figure of four for 80, while the spin duo of Pragyan Ojha (2/104) and R Ashwin (2/137) claimed the remaining wickets. Pacer Ishant Sharma (2/95) had claimed two wickets yesterday.
Veteran batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, playing with a stiff calf muscle, gave Bravo good company with 47 (94 balls, 6×4).
After Chanderpaul’s dismissal, Bravo stitched another substantial partnership with Marlon Samuels who slammed 84 from 111 balls laced with 13 boundaries and one six.
Skipper Darren Sammy then hit a quick-fire 32 from 28 balls, studded with one boundary and three sixes, but Yadav claimed two wickets in two balls to bundle out the visitors for 463.
It was for the first time that the West Indies scored more than 400 when following on, bettering the 1968 record of 391/9 declared against England in Kingston. (PTI)