Gayle leads WI dominance

Following two nailbiting, game-saving efforts in the first two Test matches, the West Indies enjoyed dominance on the first day of the third Test against India. The day began on a soggy note, but after the morning session was washed out, the West Indies elected to bat first and cruised to a commanding position of 207 for 1, frustrating the Indian bowlers throughout play.

The crowd in St. Kitts was treated to a fantastic display by the home side to inaugurate Test cricket on the island. India began the game well, behind the bowling of Munaf Patel and Sreesanth, but with Chris Gayle coming into bloom, the Indian attack began to fade at times into mediocrity.

If Gayle’s cautious start impressed, the attacking strokeplay that followed blinded. He smashed the first of five sixes over long-on against Sreesanth. It was a shot of authority that not only kick-started the aggressive intent of the West Indies innings, but carried Gayle to the notable milestone of 4000 Test match runs.

A brief shower disrupted play, but it did nothing to distract the concentration of the West Indian openers. Instead the batsman returned and played more freedom and ease that they had before the interval.

While Ganga remained the more patient and careful of the two, Gayle clobbered Sreesanth for another six over backward point, then took to the spin bowling of Harbhajan Singh with little remorse. The left-hander displayed stunning footwork to meet the ball from the offspinner, and hit three sixes to fast-track his way to another Test half-century.

Then well in stride, it seemed that the West Indies would only further deflate a labouring Indian outfit as the score reached 143. At that stage the breakthrough was finally engineered, however, and notably in spectacular fashion, typically unbecoming of an Indian seamer.

Gayle saw his offstump cartwheel backward, following a crucial mistake of judgement and no shot attempt at a Patel delivery. It was the end of a top class 127-ball stay, featuring 8 fours and the afore mentioned smattering of sixes.

Ramnaresh Sarwan came to the crease with just 2 runs behind him in his last 3 Test innings, and in his initial stay, such a lack of form was quite evident. But the Indians could not seize the moment, and Sarwan soon found his stride with attacking intent and determined front foot play.

His partner Ganga was also served his fair share of luck. In the opening overs he saw the ball beat the bat on more than one occasion, then the advent of Anil Kumble faced the frustration of several unsuccessful, yet very close, lbw appeals.

Ganga fought through, however, and played the innings he desperately needed in the wake of increased criticism over his presence in the team. At stumps he stood on 64 not out, having endured 187 balls. Sarwan progressed more easily, and took 79 balls for his 44 runs.

The West Indies will now look to build upon the excellent start, though with more rain expected and wicket serving little to the bowlers, it seems the course is par for another drawn result.

West Indies 207-1
Chris Gayle 83, Daren Ganga 64*, Ramnaresh Sarwan 44*
Munaf Patel 1-53

West Indies lead by 207 runs on first innings with 9 wickets in hand.