However, Laxman played his part beautifully by scoring a half century. Chasing a target of 276 runs in the first Test at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in New Delhi, Sachin looked pretty and was on course to complete his milestone after slamming a classy fifty in the first session Wednesday. India resumed the fourth day needing 124 runs to win but lost the wicket of Rahul Dravid early after a Fidel Edwards delivery uprooted his stumps. He added just one run to his overnight score.
But Dravid’s departure hardly affected India’s run chase and with the arrival of VVS Laxman it looked easier. He joined master blaster and scored some quick runs. Earlier, Sachin Tendulkar etched his name in the record books yet again as he became the only player in the history to cross 15,000 Test runs. He, along with Rahul Dravid, had held the fort for India on a tricky day as India finished Day 3 with 152 on board with the loss of two wickets and they require 124 runs more to win the first Test.
The final session of Day 3 was dominated by an enterprising 55 by Sehwag before Dravid and Sachin went into their shell playing out the day.
Day 3 belonged to India overall with Indian bowlers taking charge in the first session picking up 5 Windies wickets for just 88 runs.
Ravichandran Ashwin also had a memorable day claiming a 6-for thus making him only the second player from India after Narendra Hirwani to take a 5 wicket haul on debut.
However, West Indies did have their moments as well with captain Darren Sammy bludgeoning the Indian pacers en route to his quickfire 42. Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who has been by far the best batsmen on display from either side pitched in with a handy 47.
With Kotla ticket prices slashed to Rs.100 (min. ticket value), Day 4 spectators might be in for a small session only but would be witnessing a long awaited Indian Test win and a possibility of Sachin’s much prolonged milestone that you might be knowing off.
In the final session, Dravid and Sachin ensured that there were no hiccups after the fall of Sehwag as both the veterans played out Day 3 of the Kotla Test.
Sachin might not not have reached his 100th ton but he did reach another milestone in the form of 15,000 Test runs. Earlier, Darren Sammy provided the most vital breakthrough for West Indies with the wicket of Virender Sehwag. The charismatic opener was bowled by Sammy after an enterprising run a ball 55.
Virender Sehwag had earlier set aside the Kotla demons to score an enterprising 50 to boost the Indian run chase. Gautam Gambhir perished after a knock of 22 but Sehwag maintained a high run-rate in chase of 276.
