Kingston (Jamaica), July 2 (IANS) Harbhajan Singh ran through the West Indian middle-order after S. Sreesanth made the initial breakthrough as India, dismissed for 200 on the first day, fought their way back into the fourth Test at Sabina Park here Saturday.
Harbhajan captured his second five-wicket haul in successive Tests as West Indies failed to bat out one-and-a-half sessions. They were all out for 103 in 33.3 overs, 40 minutes after lunch on the second day. India, with a 97-run first innings, look to be in the driver's seat on this dicey wicket.
The significance of Rahul Dravid's knock Friday became even more apparent on the second day when the West Indian batsmen chose stroke playing as the weapon with which to counter the duplicitous nature of the wicket. It was not a wise choice.
Brian Lara was at his exhilarating best as he hit six fours in 26, out of 42 added with Darren Ganga after Sreesanth had removed Chris Gayle in the first over of the innings. He pulled and cut Sreesanth as only he can and when Kumble came on for Patel, drove him in his first over for boundaries either side of the non-striker's wicket.
Sreesanth did bother him with a couple that moved and had two good shouts for leg before and then got the master out with a snorter, the last ball of his sixth over. It rose viciously from a good length and as Lara fended awkwardly, the ball went off to his glove to Wasim Jaffer at third slip.
Young Sreesanth had done what most people thought Munaf Patel would be more likely to do, give India the breakthrough that would help them get back into the match.
Anil Kumble and Patel then picked up a wicket each to widen the crack in the West Indian batting. Kumble dismissed Marlon Samuels, promoted up the order, stumped by wicketkeeper Dhoni, while Patel had a flashing Shivnarine Chanderpaul edging and caught behind.
Harbhajan hammered the final nails in the coffin. He struck two crucial blows in an over that spanned the lunch break. With the second ball of his first over, coming on for Kumble at the North End, he trapped Ganga leg before.
Ganga had batted well for his 40, showing a nice mix of caution and aggression, and appeared the only West Indian batsman who had a desire to grind it out. Lunch was taken at the fall of his wicket and the remaining four balls were delivered after play resumed, Harbhajan got Dwayne Bravo, caught at short leg.
Ramnaresh Sarwan came to bat with a runner but after a couple of positive shots, tried to hit Harbhajan out of the ground but only skied it to Mohammed Kaif at midwicket.
That exposed the tail and India quickly wrapped it up.
SCOREBOARD
Day 2, Fourth Test, West Indies v India, Sabina Park, Kingston (Jamaica)
India (1st innings): 200
West Indies (1st innings):
Chris Gayle b Sreesanth 0
Darren Ganga lbw Harbhajan 40
Brian Lara c Jaffer b Sreesanth 26
Marlon Samuels st Dhoni b Kumble 2
Shivnarine Chanderpaul c Dhoni b Patel 10
Dwayne Bravo c Yuvraj b Harbhajan 0
Ramnaresh Sarwan c Kaif b Harbhajan 7
Denesh Ramdin c Yuvraj b Harbhajan 10
Jerome Taylor run out 6
Pedro Collins c Sehwag b Harbhajan 0
Corey Collymore not out 0
Extras (1w, 1nb) 2
Total (for 33.3 overs) 103
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-42, 3-53, 4-72, 5-80, 6-81, 7-88, 8-99, 9-103
Bowling
S. Sreesanth 9-3-34-2
Munaf Patel 12-5-24-1 (1w)
Anil Kumble 8-3-32-1 (1nb)
Harbhajan Singh 4.3-0-13-5
© 2006 Indo-Asian News Service | 
