KOLKATA – India marched steadily towards victory after enforcing the follow-on despite an improved batting performance by West Indies in the second innings of the second test at Eden Gardens earlier today.
At the close on the third day, West Indies were 195 for three wickets, still trailing India by 283 runs, with Darren Bravo (38) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (21) at the crease.
Adrian Barath (62) and Kirk Edwards (60) scored dogged half-centuries in West Indies’ second innings after the visitors collapsed in a heap to be all out for 153 in their first essay.
West Indies lost opener Kraigg Brathwaite (nine) early, but Barath (62) and Edwards added 93 for the second wicket to lead the tourists’ fightback.
Brathwaite edged paceman Umesh Yadav in the fifth over for captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni to complete a low catch behind the stumps.
Barath, who hit 10 boundaries, played a wild drive against paceman Ishant Sharma, four deliveries after the tea break, and Vangipurappu Laxman held on to a low chance at slip.
“I think we did not bat as well as we should have in the first innings. Basically we learnt from our mistakes in the first innings and we applied ourselves a bit more,” Barath told reporters.
“It shows that as a team we are capable of playing spin well. I think it was just a matter of application in the first innings.”
The 21-year old Barath was still hopeful that West Indies could avoid the innings defeat by making India bat again.
“It is going to be difficult. Shivnarine Chanderpaul is the key player for us tomorrow,” he said.
“He is the one who can bat through tomorrow and make it difficult for the Indian bowlers and take the game into the fifth day and make them bat again.”
The lanky Sharma, who is leading the Indian attack in the absence of Zaheer Khan, also got rid of Edwards when he got him out lbw. Edwards hit six boundaries and a six during his knock.
