Delhi, India — West Indies captain Darren Sammy led a superb bowling and fielding effort as the visitors dismissed India for 209 in the first innings to take a lead of 95 runs on the second day of the first Test.
Sammy took three wickets crucial wickets — Yuvraj Singh caught at cover; M.S. Dhoni bowled; and R. Ashwin brilliant caught down the leg-side by keeper Carlton Baugh — to end with 3-35 off eight overs and silence the lively holiday crowd at the Feroz Shah Kotla on Monday.
The West Indies will enter the third day on Tuesday with an overall lead of 116 and all to play for. After the day’s play, the captain lauded the bowlers, but said there is still a long way to go in the match.
“We played some good cricket today but this match is far from over. The bowlers were sensational for us and we saw some tremendous efforts in the outfield. We did some really good things. It was not the perfect day for us but we supported each other and played fearless cricket and it paid off,” Sammy said.
“As bowlers we did a great job to bowl India out. They are a strong, experienced side but we stuck to what we know. Considering the slow and low pitch, the plan was to bowl at the right areas; wicket to wicket. We stuck to the plan. The plan now is to continue, to build on what we have done so far and look to win the Test match and take a 1-0 lead in the series.”
Sammy sees himself as the workhorse in the bowling attack and enjoys doing the donkey work. He gave a huge effort with the ball, held a catch at square leg and deflected a firm drive into the stumps at the non-striker’s end to run out of Gautam Gambhir.
Ravi Rampaul and leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo both took two wickets, while off-spinner Marlon Samuels chipped with a wicket to end a stubborn partnership. Fidel Edwards bowled with fire and got the wicket of legend Sachin Tendulkar.
So far this year Sammy has captured 24 Test wickets at an average of just under 25 runs per wicket. He said proper planning and self-belief have been key factors in the team’s gradual improvement. He added that the team gained a lot from their series win in Bangladesh last week.
“We expected India to come hard at us. We had a similar experience in Bangladesh and I knew that once the ball got old the run rate would slow down. At lunch break I told the players to maintain the belief, stick to the line and length and the basics. We did that and it paid off.
“We came across such slow and low pitches in Bangladesh and that has helped up in preparing the series here in India. Like Shivnarine Chanderpaul said you have to be patient and stay at the crease as long as possible and runs are there to be scored.”