- ReutersIndia's Harbhajan Singh (centre) unsuccessfully appeals for a caught behind dismissal of Cameron Cuffy (left) of the West Indies as Indian wickekeeper Parthiv Patel (right) dives to catch the ball during the fourth day's play of the first Test between India and the West Indies in Mumbai yesterday. India beat the West Indies by an innings and 112 runs.
MUMBAI, India, CMC:
OFF-SPINNER HARBHAJAN Singh grabbed seven wickets and spurred India to an innings and 112-run victory over the West Indies on the fourth day of their first Test match at the Wankhede Stadium yesterday for a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
The West Indies wilted to 188 all out in their second innings following on, for a first ever innings defeat to India, and their catastrophic tour record sinks to 24 losses in their past 28 Tests.
"We've had a poor Test match and the results show," West Indies captain Carl Hooper said.
From an overnight 91 for one, still 209 runs behind, the West Indies declined badly against significant turn and bounce from Singh and legspinner Anil Kumble.
Again, Shivnarine Chanderpaul was the most resistant with an unbeaten 36, while Singh and Kumble tormented the touring side and presided over the helpless slide to 158 for eight at lunch.
Chris Gayle (42) was first out when he attempted a lazy paddle towards the on side off Singh and lobbed an easy catch - off the leading edge - to Sourav Ganguly running around from mid-off in the morning's sixth over.
Gayle had added just eight runs to his overnight score and his departure ended a 45-run second wicket stand with Sarwan, whose dismissal soon after, was part of a five-wicket plunge that reduced the West Indies to 117 for six, from a promising 105 for one.
Sarwan, facing 83 balls for 17, drove Kumble straight to Sachin Tendulkar at cover, while the stodgy Chanderpaul, who stood tall with 54 in the West Indies' feeble 157 first innings total, endured more agony looking for support, as he watched his captain Carl Hooper (one), Ryan Hinds (two), and Ridley Jacobs (0) return to the pavillion after very brief knocks.
Hooper gave a return catch to Singh, and Kumble struck a double blow to dislodge Hinds caught bat/pad by Virender Sehwag, and Jacobs, edging to Ganguly at gully to complete a pair.
Mahendra Nagamootoo (18) and Chanderpaul added 41 for the seventh wicket but Singh had Nagamootoo caught at slip by Ganguly at 158 for seven, and without addition to the score removed Dillon as well, also clutched at slip by Dravid.
After the lunch break, Singh lifted his tally to seven wickets when Pedro Collins (8) edged to Dravid at slip and last-man Cameron Cuffy (0) gave him a return catch as the West Indies fell to defeat in just over 3 1/2 days.
Chanderpaul batted just under two hours for his 36 and hit five boundaries.
Singh ended with seven for 48 off 28.3 overs and Kumble picked up three for 50 off 25 overs.
Virender Sehwag, whose splendid knock of 147, powered India's imposing first innings 457 for nine and set up the emphatic result, was named man-of-the-match.
Hooper said his team's batting was "poor" but suggested inefficient out-cricket was the initial problem.
"The batting was poor but I think it started before that, we just can't continue to let good players off, especially when a track is as flat as this," said Hooper, obviously pointing to several missed chances against Sehwag and Sanjay Bangar when India piled up 278 for two on the opening day.
Winning captain Ganguly praised his team's effort in the post-game interview.
"We played well, we batted well on the first day, I thought it was good toss to win," he said.
The teams will now prepare for the second Test, starting on Thursday in Chennai where the West Indies have lost three of five Test matches played there.
SCOREBOARD
India first innings 457-9
West Indies first innings 157
West Indies second innings
(Resumed at 91-1)
C. Gayle c Ganguly b Harbhajan Singh 42
R. Sarwan c Tendulkar b Kumble 17
S. Chanderpaul not out 36
C. Hooper c&b Harbhajan Singh 1
R. Hinds c Sehwag b Kumble 2
R. Jacobs c Ganguly b Kumble 0
M. Nagamootoo c Ganguly b Singh 18
M. Dillon c Dravid b Singh 0
P. Collins c Dravid b Harbhajan Singh 8
C. Cuffy c&b Harbhajan Singh 0
Extras (b8, lb15, nb1) 24
TOTAL (all out) 188
Fall: 1-60, 2-105, 3-107, 4-110, 5-117, 6-117, 7-158, 8-158, 9-184.
Bowling: Srinath 4-2-19-0 (1nb); Khan 4-0-26-0; Bangar 6-1-20-0; Harbhajan Singh 28.3-11-48-7; Kumble 25-8-50-3; Tendulkar 1-0-2-0.
Result: India won by an innings and 112 runs.
Man-of-the-match: Virender Sehwag (India).
