Sarwan, Ganga hit hundreds, Windies reach 420 for five

Basseterre, St Kitts, June 24 (UNI) Ramnaresh Sarwan (116) and Daren Ganga (135) shared a 203-run second wicket partnership before Munaf Patel and S Sreesanth took two wickets each to leave West Indies at 420 for five on the rain-hit second day of the third Test here.

Rain prevented play after tea and the Indians had taken two more wickets in the second session to apply some brakes to the rampaging West Indies batsmen. Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul both departed in the session but the hosts still held the ace at tea continuing on a first innings score of 420 for five.

It looked gloomy after tea as heavy downpour prevented the resumption of play. The outfield was considerably wet which ruled out the possibility of any more action.

Only 58 runs were scored in the post-lunch session as the Windies batsmen applied caution.

Looking to score a big first innings total, the West Indies batsmen slowed down after lunch and if runs were scored at a rate of four per over until lunch, the scoring rate went down to just two per over after that.

The Indian bowlers came back nicely to keep things tight at both the ends and Sreesanth was the first to taste success when he brought back a delivery to send century-maker Sarwan back in the pavilion.

Sarwan departed for 116 that had 17 fours and one mighty six off Harbhajan Singh.

Harbhajan, who had toiled hard without any success, finally got a wicket when he had Dwayne Bravo caught behind by Mahendra Singh Dhoni for 21.

Earlier, a double strike by Munaf Patel earned some relief for India but not before Ganga and Sarwan had put the West Indies in a commanding position.

Ganga and Sarwan completed their centuries as West Indies went past the 300-run mark for the loss of just one wicket.

Overnight 207 for one, West Indies added 114 runs in just 90 minutes. Play started half an hour early to make up for the lost overs due to rain on day one and it was a thoroughly entertaining batting display from the West Indies duo as the Indian bowlers struggled to bowl to any plan.

Even though Chris Gayle was not there to punish the Indian bowlers hammer and tong, runs came in pretty quick time for the West Indies. Sarwan and Ganga continued the run riot and that took the game away from India.

If Ganga was stoic on the first day, he allowed himself the luxury of hitting through the line today. Skipper Brian Lara had told him to play more freely. Ganga paid back the confidence reposed on him by his captain by converting his good start to his third Test century.

Sarwan came into his elements immediately after Ganga's hundred and it was an over that Munaf Patel would not forget in a hurry.

Sarwan hit six fours in the over to race from 75 to 99. The first boundary was a delectable cover drive followed by a pull to the mid on boundary. Munaf bowled a slower one next but Sarwan hit the ball in the air through cover which a diving Yuvraj Singh couldn't reach to. An inside edge next ball fetched another boundary for Sarwan and he followed that up with a cut through point and a cover drive to complete six fours in six balls.

Sarwan equalled the world record of six boundaries in an over held by teammate Chris Gayle and India's Sandeep Patil and celebrated his flurry of fours with his ninth Test century.

India captain Rahul Dravid tried all the bowlers including Virender Sehwag but none looked like taking a wicket. Ganga and Sarwan went past 200 runs in their partnership for the second wicket.

Finally it was left to Munaf to provide the much needed breakthrough. Munaf nipped one in sharply that took the inside edge of Ganga's blade and rocked the stumps but Ganga had done the damage by then, scoring 135 runs and adding 203 for the second wicket with Sarwan.

Munaf struck again when he had Brian Lara caught plumb in front of the wicket for 10 before rain gods prevented any more play.

Chanderpaul (24) and Marlon Samuels (8) were at the crease when the play ended.

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