Journalism of Courage
In the end the West Indies and Uttar Pradesh players and the support staff sat together for a group photo and then the post-match camaraderie was on show. But before that it was a thoroughly professional battle in the middle.
The Uttar Pradesh lower middle-order did its bit to hurt the confidence of the visiting bowlers. The three-day tour game between the two sides ended in a draw at the Jadavpur University8217;s Salt Lake Campus Ground here on Saturday. But the result was never of grave important here.
From 96 for 4 at one stage,Uttar Pradesh declared at 372 for 9 after lunch on the final day,which meant their last five wickets had added 276 runs against an international bowling line-up.
Of course a slow pitch became slower as the game progressed,still the West Indies attack,comprising at least two bowlers Tino Best and Darren Sammy who will play the first Test against India in four days8217; time,wouldn8217;t be happy with their inability to bowl out the opponents.
Coach Ottis Gibson admitted that the team was only shaking off some rustiness. We8217;ve not played the longer format for a long time. This match gave us an understanding of what8217;s going to happen next week and what we need to do as a bowling unit. We8217;ve to be a little bit more patient. Then again,we didn8217;t play Kemar Roach and Shane Shillingford in this game because both had shoulder problems. But both are expected to be fit for the first Test, he said.
At the same time,Gibson,however,said they8217;d be going to Eden Gardens as underdogs. Yes we are definitely the underdogs. We are No. 6 in the world while India are second. But we want to be the underdogs with a bite, he said.
Uttar Pradesh batters,however,showed that fast bowlers Best and Sheldon Cottrell and left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul had a lot of work to do before they take on MS Dhoni amp; co.
Parvinder Singh deserves a special mention here. The middle-order batsman,resuming on his overnight 78,played untroubled for his 112. It was his ninth first-class hundred.
Rarely threatening
The Cottrell delivery he got out to rose awkwardly off a length,hit high on his bat and flew to Marlon Samuels at backward point. That was the only time when a West Indies fast bowler looked threatening.
But Piyush Chawla came and carted the bowlers all over the park for his 58-ball 46. He enjoyed a life though,when Best dropped him at wide long-off. West Indies struggled to get rid of 8216;keeper-batsman Amir Khan 47 as well but that was after the latter enjoyed a stroke of luck while batting on 14. Best castled him round his legs but had overstepped. Even No.9 batsman Imtiaz Ahmed 19 looked comfortable during his short cameo. Mohammad Kaif,however,expects West Indies to raise their intensity level in the Tests.
A Test match is played with a completely different level of intensity but yes I8217;d say India start with an advantage, he told The Indian Express.
When West Indies batted in their second innings,Chris Gayle 58,49b entertained the fans with his customary stroke-play. But just when a big score looked on the cards,Chawla deceived him in the air and snapped up the return catch on offer.
Brief scores: West Indians 466 and 199/5 in 37 overs Chris Gayle 58,Marlon Samuels 58; Piyush Chawla 4/72 vs UP 372/9 decl Parvinder Singh 112; Sheldon Cottrell 3/65,Veerasammy Permaul 3/124 Match drawn
