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Chanderpaul, Samuels give Windies big lead

Faisal Shariff

India vs West Indies: 3rd Test: Day 3 Kolkata, India

Scorecard

Shivnaraine Chanderpaul scored his fifth century against India to lift the West Indies to a strong position on day 3 in the third Test at the Eden Gardens on Friday.

His 191-run unfinished partnership for the sixth wicket with Marlon Samuels saw the visitors end the day handsomely-placed on 446 for 5, 88 runs ahead of India's first innings total.

Chanderpaul, having batted for more than six hours, was unbeaten on 136 while Samuels was 11 short of his maiden Test century.

The lead is only 88 runs, but if it swells to 200, the Indian batting will be tested against the four West Indian pace bowlers.

India's only chance is to snap up quick wickets in the morning on day 4 and bat positively in the second innings to achieve the coveted clean sweep. But, as of now, that seems a distant dream.

Morning session

Carl Hooper's experience has taught him that the bad days will always exceed the good ones in cricket. Today was no different as the West Indies, who after a 172-run opening partnership lost three wickets yesterday evening, returned and lost the important wickets of Gayle and Hooper in the morning session to swing the match India's way.

Under the threat of their seventh series whitewash in five years, the visitors had to ensure that they cashed in on the brilliant start their openers had given them.

Skipper Sourav Ganguly employed Harbhajan Singh from the second over of the day. Gayle hit the 32nd boundary of the innings, driving straight past the bowler, to bring up the Windies 200.

With his eighth ball of the morning, Anil Kumble surprised Chris Gayle with a delivery that bounced on him, took the glove and flew to Virender Sehwag at short leg. He was out for 88.

Gayle lost the chance to register his maiden century of the series as the West Indies trailed India by 145 runs at 213 for 4.

The dismissal brought the visitors' most reliable pair of Hooper and Chanderpaul together at the crease. Ganguly attacked with spin from both ends as an intense period of play ensued with the Guyanese pair negotiating the searching spells of Harbhajan and Kumble. Hooper managed a single run in almost 33 balls, pushing and prodding at the tweakers.

Chanderpaul on the other hand swept the spinners at will, forcing Harbhajan Singh to bowl from around the wicket. The move almost paid off as Harbhajan rapped Chanderpaul on the pads from the altered line and asked the question. Umpire Asoka DeSilva turned down the appeal, which replays showed was quite close.

A mere 31 runs were scored in 16 overs without either of the batsmen looking to take risks or up the tempo. Searching for a breakthrough, Ganguly took the second new ball in the 100th over of the Windies innings and the move paid off.

Ashish Nehra who bowled eight maidens in his 13 overs, bowled a delivery that pitched and moved a shade away from Hooper. The edge flew wide of the diminutive Parthiv Patel, who dived full length to his right to complete a great catch. Hooper's 74-ball innings of 19 runs was cut short as the West Indies were left floundering at 255-5.

Nehra's knack of picking huge wickets marks him out as a special bowler. In Zimbabwe last year he picked Andy Flower on a couple of occasions; then had Brian Lara dismissed thrice in the Caribbean.

Post-lunch session

"Whenever the going gets good you take the runs, because you never know when the dry season is going to come," Shivnaraine Chanderpaul had said while explaining his hunger for runs against India.

Registering his fourth Test century of the year -- all against India -- he ensured that the West Indies reprisal wasn't a false one. Along with Marlon Samuels he stitched together a 100-run partnership to give his side the first innings lead.

Chanderpaul's visit to a temple at Bharat Sevashram Sangha in Kolkata last Monday seemed to have paid dividends. His astounding average of 140.50, with an aggregate of 562 runs, had paved the way for a West Indies series victory in the Caribbean early this year. He reached his half-century soon after lunch and then took Kumble on in one particular over. A full volley and a short-pitched delivery were pulled through mid-wicket for boundaries and then a half volley was sent straight down the ground for another four. Another pull that went for four was followed by a slog-sweep over the square leg fence for six as Kumble’s bowling was methodically disintegrated.

Marlon Samuels, in the midst of a disciplinary fracas and lucky to escape severe punishment, was a touch uncertain initially but once he got the measure of the wicket, played some booming off-drives off Nehra.

Running out of ideas and patience, Ganguly gave Sehwag a bowl and Chanderpaul nudged him for a couple of boundaries to coast into the nineties. The left-hander registered his sixth Test century, off which five have come against India. His century, off 179 balls, set the West Indies to call the shots for the first time in the series.

The Indian seamers failed to trouble the openers and the spinners were easy meat for Chanderpaul and Samuels. The runs came at a quick pace and without having to take undue risks the duo crossed the 100-run mark.

Chanderpaul will never rank amongst the most elegant left-handed batsmen in the world but can easily stake his claim as one of the most effective batsmen of our times.

The West Indies went to tea on 363 for 5, taking a five-run lead over India on the first innings. Chanderpaul was unbeaten on 107 while Samuels was approaching his half-century.

Post-tea session

The Caribbean carnival finally found its rhythm after tea as Chanderpaul and Samuels completed the rout of the Indian bowlers.

Ganguly fiddled with his bowling changes and after just two overs each from Srinath and Kumble switched over to Nehra and Tendulkar. The bowling swap didn't seem to hamper the run flow as Samuels unloaded his stockpile of majestic drives and audacious cuts.

As the game slipped out of hand, the body language of the Indians told the story. The shoulders were already sagging, the bowling lacked bite and Ganguly ran out of luck with his bowling changes.

Samuels reached his half-century after 170 minutes at the crease and drove the Indian bowlers into oblivion. Chanderpaul cut Nehra to the fence to bring up the 150-run partnership with Samuels as the lead swelled.

62 runs came in 13 overs, as the Indians seemed clueless about the proceedings in the middle. The Windies had nothing to lose, having conceded the Test series already, and it showed. The batsmen seemed intent on redeeming Caribbean pride and defending a successful track record at the venue.

The dull weather and fading light epitomised the Indian mood. The Windies blitz, however, stormed the Eden Gardens. Samuels looked set for a maiden Test ton while Chanderpaul batted with the lung capacity of a marathoner. His innings seemed unending as he sent the Indian bowlers into a state of inertia.

The 191-run unbeaten partnership between Samuels and Chanderpaul saw the West Indies pile a mammoth 446 for 5 before bad light -- as usual -- ended play.