Dravid Achieves Rare Feat

Rahul Dravid accomplished a rare feat of scoring four hundreds in successive innings as Indiafinished day two of the first cricket Test against the West Indies with a firm grip on the match.

Dravid scored exactly hundred before retiring due to cramps and India lost their last five wicket for 56 runs to beall out in their first innings for 457.

In the 14 overs bowled in the West Indian innings, the visitors were reduced to 33 for two with Zaheer Khan andHarbhajan Singh picking up one wicket each.

Dravid became just the third batsman in the world to score four centuries in successive innings, the others beingJack Fingleton of Australia and Alan Melville of South Africa. Sir Everton Weekes of West Indies holds the world record offive hundreds on the trot.

Dravid, who had scores of 115, 148 and 217 in the last three Tests in England, faced 242 balls during his 350-minuteknock which included 12 hits to the fence. While taking a second run that brought up his 14th Test hundred, Dravid, whowas already suffering from dehydration, developed cramps and was forced to retire.

But he had already placed India in a strong position with a 105-run partnership for the fifth wicket with V.V.S. Laxmanwhich brought the team back on track after the loss of two quick wickets in the morning had pegged the hosts back a bit.

India lost Sachin Tendulkar and captain Saurav Ganguly early in the morning session after resuming at their overnight278 for two.

Tendulkar failed to add anything to his yesterday's score of 35 when he edged Mervyn Dillon to wicketkeeper RidleyJacobs in the third over of the day to give the bowler his  third wicket.

India, who had been able to add just three runs to their total by that time, suffered another blow 15 runs later whenGanguly was trapped leg before wicket by Cameron Cuffy. Ganguly scored just four runs and India lost their fourthwicket at 296.

Thereafter began the recovery act by Dravid and Laxman in a painstaking partnership which saw runs coming in a tricklefor the Indians. The hot and humid weather conditions coupled with a much-improved bowling performance by the West Indiansmade it extremely difficult for the Indians to score.

India scored 64 runs in the morning session and took lunch at 342 for four with Dravid batting on 63 and Laxman on24. The going became all the more difficult in the second session as the West Indians started adopting defensive tacticsin a bid to frustrate the batsmen.

Leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo consistently bowled outside the leg-stump to utilise the rough. The Indian batsmenwere content with playing defensively before Laxman decided enough was enough and began to take on the bowler. He steppedout a few times to hit the bowler through the off-side and
even succeeded in taking a boundary through the point region.

But it was Nagamootoo who had the last laugh. In the last over before tea, Laxman once again stepped out but this timemissed the ball and his balance to see Jacobs complete an easy stumping. Laxman made 45 off 144 balls with four fours duringhis 135 minute stay at the crease.

The dismissal of Laxman signalled the tea break at which point India were 401 for five with Dravid just two runs awayfrom his milestone.

Dravid duly reached his hundred after the break but his retirement triggered a collapse and India suddenly foundthemselves reduced to 408 for eight.

Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble and Zaheer Khan returned to the pavilion without scoring, the last two off successiveballs from Nagamootoo who finished the innings with figures of three from 132.

But young wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel and comeback man Javagal Srinath did well to defy the West Indian attack forclose to an hour. The two added 49 runs for the last wicket before Srinath was caught behind to give West Indian captainCarl Hooper a wicket in his 100th Test. Srinath scored 31 with three fours and a six while Patel remained unbeaten on 21.

The West Indies had a disastrous start with opener Chris Gayle being trapped leg before wicket by Zaheer Khan with justseven runs on the board.

Harbhajan Singh sent back the other opener Wavell Hinds, caught brilliantly by substitute Shiv Sunder Das at sillypoint, for seven. At stumps, Ramnaresh Sarwan was batting on 20 while night watchman Dillon was on four.

PTI