India 128/6, Dravid completes 9,000 test runs

Kingston, Jamaica, July 2 (UNI) Rahul Dravid once again stood between victory and defeat for India remaining unbeaten on 62 as the visitors ended Day two on 128 for 6 in the fourth and final Test against West Indies here.

India were 225 runs ahead with 4 wickets remaining after they bowled out West Indies for 103 in their first innings and took vital 97-run lead.

It was a day of personal milestones too as the Indian skipper completed 9000 test runs and Harbhajan Singh took 19th five-wicket haul in his 57th Test.

Bowlers continued to dominate in the last Test. As many as twenty-six wickets fell in the first two days' play. But if there was any demon in the Sabina Park pitch, Dravid exorcised it and showed what application in batting on an unhelpful pitch is all about.

There was a moment in the match in the last drinks break of the day when Dravid shadow-practiced for his partner Dhoni to show how to bat on this wicket.

There was a lesson not for Dhoni alone but all the batsmen on either side on what Test batting is all about. Dravid was batting as straight as possible, coming forward and rocking behind to cut the lateral movement off pitch.

In the midst of falling wickets, Dravid stood firm for his priceless 62 that was laced with 11 boundaries. He shared two important partnerships -- 43 with VVS Laxman and 46 with Dhoni -- to carry the Indian hopes on the third day.

Laxman once again promised to deceive in this match. Looking good for a big score, the Hyderabadi batsman played an away-going delivery from Collymore and gave Lara a simple catch in the slips for 16.

Collymore then had Yuvraj Singh dismissed in the same fashion for 13. Soon, next man in Kaif played on Pedro Collins for 6 and India were 76 for five giving West Indies enough room to inch back in the match.

Dhoni was ill at ease throughout his 39-ball stay at the crease consistently playing and missing. However, he hung in with his captain to score some crucial runs for India.

The Indian wicket-keeper was cleaned up by Jerome Taylor for 19 and the visitors were 122 for six then.

Earlier, just before tea, Dravid completed 9000 runs in Test cricket when he reached 19.

Conceding a lead of 97 runs, first innings 5-wicket taker Taylor again began with good promise for West Indies. He removed Jaffer caught at slips for one and then had Sehwag out lbw to send the Indian openers back for just six runs on the board.

Dravid and Laxman then batted with straight bats to see that there was no further loss in the session.

Earlier, Harbhajan Singh took five wickets as West Indies were bundled out for their lowest total against India.

Replying to India's 200 all out, West Indies were all out for 103 in 33.3 overs. Harbhajan returned a figure of 4.3-0-13-5 and took wickets in his first, second and fourth overs to give India a handful lead of 97.

Indian bowlers did a fabulous job to take five wickets in the first session leaving West Indies at 80 for five at lunch.

S Sreesanth struck early removing opener Chris Gayle in his first over and then accounted for skipper Brian Lara's wicket as West Indies were reduced to 42 for two after first hour's play.

Gayle has had a very good series so far and has tormented Sreesanth quite a lot with his lusty hittings. But it was payback time for Sreesanth who opened the bowling for India.

The fourth ball of his first over came in a bit and also kept low to completely castle Gayle for nought.

Lara came to bat one down as Ramnaresh Sarwan was injured during fielding yesterday. The West Indies skipper survived a loud appeal from Seesanth in the first ball he faced.

Seeing the pitch offering help early on, Sreesanth and Munaf Patel bowled with a lot of venom. First run on the board was a sneaky edge off Ganga that just fell between second and third slips for four.

Harbhajan then tightened the noose after lunch accounting for Dwayne Bravo's wicket in the first over itself. Bravo was caught by Yuvraj for nought at forward short leg.

Sarwan who came with a runner looked to hit Harbhajan out of the ground but managed to sky an easy catch to Kaif at mid on.

Denesh Ramdin also fell to Harbhajan-Yuvraj combination, while Collins was caught at long on by Sehwag off Harbhajan.

Taylor was run out in a funny mix, the only batsman who didn't fell to Harbhajan after lunch.

This is Harbhajan's 19th five wicket haul in Test cricket.

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