3rd Test: India v West Indies at Kolkata, 30 Oct-3 Nov 2002 CricInfo Live Report

3rd Test: India v West Indies at Kolkata, 30 Oct-3 Nov 2002
Anand Vasu

West Indies 1st innings: Lunch - Day 3, Tea - Day 3, Stumps - Day 3,
Live Reports from previous days

CHANDERPAUL, SAMUELS THRIVE AS WEST INDIES TAKE CONTROL
When bad light stopped play nine overs before the scheduled close of play, West Indies were in a strong position at 446/5 leading by 88 runs in the first innings. The day’s hero Shivnarine Chanderpaul was unbeaten on 136 while Marlon Samuels, fast making a name for himself, was on 89. India had struggled, getting just two wickets and conceding 257 runs on the day.

While the Indians have been on the receiving end of big innings from Chanderpaul in the past, today they experienced the Samuels factor. Using his height well, the young West Indian got to the pitch of the ball as much as he could. Every loose delivery was dispatched with panache. Sweet timing rather than raw power was the order of the day as Samuels reached 89 (167 balls, 15 fours)

After reaching his hundred, Chanderpaul continued to concentrate hard, and closed in on the 150 mark. His knock has ensured that West Indies are in control of this game.

For the Indian bowlers, the day was an eminently forgettable one. Anil Kumble had 1/150 from 47 overs while Harbhajan Singh had 3/101 off 52 overs.

CHANDERPAUL TON TAKES WEST INDIES PAST INDIA
Shivnarine Chanderpaul hammered out his 6th Test century and took West Indies past the Indian first innings score of 358. At tea, Chanderpaul was on 107 while West Indies were 363/5. Marlon Samuels, unbeaten on 36 gave Chanderpaul exactly the kind of support he needed.

Chanderpaul’s century his fifth against India in Tests. The Guyana southpaw seems to love the Indian bowling attack. Before the start of this innings Chanderpaul has scored an amazing 1140 runs against the Indians at an average of over 80. This innings however, has been a touch out of the ordinary. By his standards Chanderpaul was aggressive, cracking twelve boundaries and a six in getting to three figures in 179 balls.

For his part, Samuels was able to keep the Indian spinners at bay. Batting carefully, Samuels ensured that a sizable unbeaten partnership of 108 runs has been added for the sixth wicket. In the post tea session however, Samuels will be keen to go on and reach the half-century mark.

INDIA MAKE DOUBLE BREAKTHROUGH
India had two moments of unbridled success in a session where West Indies endeavoured to show that they can bat well on a good wicket. From 189/3, West Indies slipped to 261/5 at the half-way mark in this Test match.

Anil Kumble struck early in the day, removing Chris Gayle after he added just eight runs to his overnight score of 80. Poking forward at a delivery that Kumble floated through a bit slower, Gayle gloved the ball to Virender Sehwag at forward short leg off his pad.

Replacing Gayle, skipper Carl Hooper batted with composure. The Guyana middle-order bat used his wrists well to keep the opposition spinners at bay. It was, however, a brilliant bit of wicket-keeping that proved Hooper’s undoing. After the second new ball was taken Ashish Nehra got a ball to straighten, Hooper edged and Parthiv Patel dived full length to his right to snatch the ball inches above the ground. The ball was dying on Patel and the catch proved the young keeper’s pedigree. Hooper made just 19.

Marlon Samuels (batting 1), playing his first Test of the series, went safely through to lunch. Needless to say, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, watchful as ever, was at the crease with 42. With every match he plays, Chanderpaul seems to get better and better at playing the spinners. West Indies need him to go on and make a big score.