Ishant takes two before lunch against Windies
Early-morning showers reduced the first session by 45 minutes, but Ishant Sharma still had enough time to extend his domination of Ramnaresh Sarwan, and also remove nightwatchman Devendra Bishoo.
- ESPNcricinfo staff
- Updated: June 29, 2011 10:03 PM IST
Early-morning showers reduced the first session by 45 minutes, but Ishant Sharma still had enough time to extend his domination of Ramnaresh Sarwan, and also remove nightwatchman Devendra Bishoo. Ishant has now dismissed Sarwan thrice in the 24 balls he has bowled to the batsman. There was moisture in the pitch, the ball was only 12 overs old, and Ishant and Praveen Kumar made full use, Ishant with the extra bounce and Praveen with beautiful swing either way.
Live Scorecard
The cordon behind the wicket wasn't quite alert to start off with: an edge from Sarwan flew about a foot above Suresh Raina's head at third slip, another from Bishoo went not far to the left of Murali Vijay at third slip, but neither man went for the catch. MS Dhoni provided for the second contingency by crowding the cordon so much there was no gap left between himself and the gully.
The bounce that Ishant extracted was too much for Bishoo, and soon enough he steered one straight to gully, ending the 23-run fourth-wicket partnership. Sarwan, not at all at ease with the bounce and the movement, found himself at the crease to a full inswinger two balls later, bringing in the last recognised pair.
Praveen's swing caused Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Marlon Samuels all sorts of trouble in the lead-up to lunch, but they both played late - if they had to - and even when Samuels edged Praveen once he did so with soft hands, just teasing the cordon.