India could not force victory over West Indies despite an early, attacking declaration on the final day of the second Test in Bridgetown as the weather closed in late on.
The tourists made a surprising decision to come in midway through the morning session, ending their innings on 269 for six - a lead of 280. And it looked like it might pay off as they took two quick wickets to leave West Indies on 48 for two at lunch.
But, after losing Adrian Barath for 27 early in the second session, the home side were able to shore up their innings thanks to Darren Bravo and the watchful Shivnarine Chanderpaul. Rain arrived after tea with West Indies on 181 for five and although a couple of quick wickets gave India hope again after play resumed, bad light ensure a draw would be the result.
India had added 40 at the cost of three wickets before Mahendra Singh Dhoni's declaration. Having begun the day well set on 229 for three, they lost Virat Kohli at the end of only the second over, adding one to his overnight 26 before edging behind. And it was the same combination of Darren Sammy and Fidel Edwards who accounted for VVS Laxman, 13 runs shy of a century, moments later.
India might have sought to consolidate but Dhoni was in attacking mood and it proved costly as he spooned up another Edwards delivery to give Chanderpaul an easy catch, departing for five.
Shortly after reaching the pavilion, Dhoni decided his side had done enough - no doubt aware of possible bad weather later in the day - but a target of 281 left the door open for West Indies to seek a series-levelling victory. "My plan was ruined because of the rain because once we came back the ball got wet and it started coming on nicely to the bat," Dhoni said later. "Still, we got a couple of wickets that were needed, but bad light really spoiled our party."
A West Indies win had looked to be on the mind of Lendl Simmons at the start of their run chase, the opener hitting three quick boundaries before departing for 14 - off only 12 balls - when he edged an Ishant Sharma delivery to Rahul Dravid.
When Ramnaresh Sarwan went for eight, also caught in the slips off Praveen Kumar, to leave his side on 27 for two, Dhoni's move was looking inspired. Barath had been the steady hand before lunch but he did not survive long after it, caught at slip off Sharma.
However, India toiled fruitlessly in search of another breakthrough before tea, with their frustration growing as they sensed their chance of victory disappearing. There was joy after the interval, however, with Chanderpaul trapped leg-before by Harbhajan Singh having made just 12 off 87 balls - though that was exactly the kind of innings his side had needed.
Marlon Samuels followed soon after for nine, looking decidedly unimpressed at being given lbw to a Sharma delivery that hit him high on the pads, though he had been well back in his crease.
India might have had a sixth wicket with the home side on 133 but Dhoni dropped what looked to be a straightforward catch from Carlton Baugh, who had yet to score. Baugh would punish them with an aggressive innings, hitting four fours - three of them in a row - and one six to make 33 off 42 balls before the rain arrived.
Bravo had been the main cause of India's frustration and he eventually fell for 73, caught behind by Dhoni off Abhimanyu Mithun. Moments later, Sammy was trapped lbw for a duck to become Sharma's 10th victim of the match, but it proved to be the penultimate delivery as the umpires called the players off moments later.
India lead the series 1-0 going into the final Test in Roseau, Dominica, next week, the first to be played in the country.
Sammy, the West Indies captain, said his team were satisfied with the draw, even though they had set out to win. "The coach had a chat with the batters and we had a plan. Even down to the last 15 overs we were right on course but we lost too many wickets, hence it pegged us back," he said. "A draw, we would take that. We still have a chance of levelling the series in Dominica. As long as we didn't lose this game today, I'm quite happy."
India were later fined for their slow over-rate. They were three overs short of their target after considering time allowances, the ICC said in a statement. The players were fined 30% of their match fees while Dhoni was docked 60%, as per ICC regulations.
India accepted the penalties without contest, the statement added.
source: guardian
