A classic piece de resistance by West Indian captain Brian Lara and somestout batting by the lower order denied the Indians a rare victory in theCaribbean in the second Test on Wednesday.
Lara's defiant 120 was the cornerstone of a spirited performance by the hostswho, starting the day on 43 for one and needing 373 to avoid an innings defeat,remained unconquered on 294 for seven at close on the fifth and final day at theBeausejour stadium.
The left-hander faced 307 balls for his 32nd Test century that spanned morethan three sessions spread over two days and featured in a match-saving 129-runpartnership with ex-captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
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Chanderpaul contributed a vital 54 from 113 balls and there was also avaluable 47 by none other than Lara's protege Dwayne Bravo who shared a crucial71-run stand for the fifth wicket with his mentor to keep the Indians at bay.
And the tail, unlike in the first Test at Antigua, wagged long enough and,more importantly, consumed time to placate the never-say-die spirit of RahulDravid's men.
In the end, India, who failed to break up the last West Indian pair atAntigua, fell short by three wickets.
They would only wonder if only the fourth day's play wasn't washed out by therains, if only the numerous half chances that came their way today wereconverted, if only Munaf Patel was brought on earlier towards the end of theday.
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Kumble (3-98) and man of the match Virender Sehwag (1-48), in his new avataras part-time offie, kept rolling their arms over and over. The two bowled 72overs between them and took four wickets.
But when Patel swung one back in to strike Ian Bradshaw plumb in front infading light, one couldn't help wonder if Dravid over-bowled his two slowbowlers.
Lara was patience personified as he cut out any cut or pull from hisrepertoire of strokes and concentrated on playing in the straight arc.
He had a lucky break on 71 when Yuvraj Singh at forward short leg dropped himoff Kumble, who with his niggardly accuracy and precision, posed as ever mostquestions to the batsmen.
Kumble bowled tirelessly for much of the afternoon, as he had done in themorning session, before he tasted success in the form of Chanderpaul's wicket.
Chanderpaul tried to lift his full toss from outside the off-stump butsucceeded only in spooning a catch to mid-on. He batted for 113 balls and hitsix fours.
India claimed the second new ball as soon as it was due and strangely askedSehwag to bowl the first over with it. It clearly was aimed to rile Bravo whohad fallen victim to Sehwag in both innings of the Antigua Test.
Lara reached his century when he cut Irfan Pathan backward of point for aboundary, having batted for 272 balls and a stretch of 328 minutes.
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The last time Lara crossed a half-century in the second innings of a Test wasway back in January 2004 when he made 86 against South Africa in Johannesburg.
Lara's dismissal, however, was a bit unfortunate as he was ruled leg beforewicket to Sehwag while the ball seemed to have struck him outside the off.
Eight overs and 25 runs later, Kumble finally saw a bat-pad catch taken inthe day with Yuvraj snaring Bravo.
Bradshaw scored one run but lasted 40 balls. When he fell, only one overremained.
Denesh Ramdin, who faced 62 balls for his unbeaten 19, saw off the final overby Kumble without any drama.
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Earlier, the West Indies survived a torrid first half hour of the day as theylost overnight batsman Daren Ganga (26) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (1) for theaddition of two runs.
After losing the entire fourth day's play due to thunder showers, India werebuoyed by the sight of clear skies and a dried up ground. Their spirit werefurther lifted when two wickets were claimed soon after play started.
Ganga was the first one to leave the middle when he shouldered arm to aKumble delivery and was horrified to see the ball spin back and peg back hisoff-stump.
Sarwan, following his first-ball duck in the first innings, didn't survivelong as an excellent delivery from Patel took the edge of his bat on way towicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
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Patel, sensing that Sarwan expected another one to jag back on him like inthe first innings, bowled a straighter delivery and the batsman playing for theinswinger, could do no more than edge a catch.
The third Test starts in St. Kitts on June 22.
PTI
