20th June 2006
Hello Friends !

In spite of dominating the west Indian hosts, India failed to pull off a victory for the 2nd test in a row, thwarted by Lara's slow and steady century and the rain which spoiled the classic deciding day at St.Lucia .

Rahul Dravid Rahul Dravid's decision at the toss to bat first was vindicated when India made an impressive 361/4 on the first day of the 2nd test match at Beausejour Cricket Ground here on Saturday. Solid batting performances included Rahul Dravid's 23rd Test century and a maiden test century for M.Kaif (unbeaten 148) . Virender Sehwag destroyed the West Indies attack with his magnificent 180 which took India on to a mammoth total of 588 for 8 declared. It was followed by an incisive opening spell by Munif Patel when he took two wickets in two balls .The West Indian innings was brought to an end at 215 with a 373 lead (which was India's highest ever lead outside the subcontinent).Rain dampened India's chance towards a win on the fourth morning as the match was halted with W.I on 43 for 1.India began the last session with a bang reducing the hosts to 138/3 at lunch on the final day. But Lara struck a match saving slow but vital century, holding the WI innings together and keeping the series score line 0-0 on Wednesday. It was second time unlucky for India , who were one wicket away from winning the first Test at Antigua . Here, they needed three as the West Indies, helped by a washout on the fourth day, finished their second innings at 294/7 on the last day. Read more...
:: More News
Visitors have hosts on the run
Two blows, Windies on the floor
Team India inch towards victory
Sachin back in action from this week
Asian war heats up in the Caribbean
:: Sehwag misses the record at St.Lucia
Virender Sehwag The first day of the second Test was mostly about one outstanding individual performance: the Indian Vice captain Virender Sehwag who dazzled ST.Lucia here with his brilliant strokeplays which put India on a huge first-innings total. Sehwag's fiery knock of 180 runs came off 190 balls and was studded with twenty fours and two sixes. Sehwag fell short by just one run to become the fifth batsman ever in the history of Test cricket to score a hundred in the first session of a Test. Sehwag's 180, nevertheless, is a staggering reminder that his last eight Test centuries have all been 150-plus scores. Sehwag went into attack mode right from the start, slapping left-arm pace bowler Pedro Collins through the covers for a scorching boundary, and following it up with another superb shot that fetched him a brace. The first six of the match, brought up Sehwag's half-century, and the 28-year-old celebrated it in style, with three big hits off successive deliveries. Sehwag again proved that what's a good length to most batsmen is a good run-scoring length for him - he scored at 5.45 per over off good-length deliveries. Sehwag also reached the 12th century of his career and his second against the West Indies. More...
Well friends, all we can do now is look out for some excitement in the upcoming third test between India and West indies at Chester - LA - Street and hope we don't have to see yet another draw. But in the meantime, I would love to get your valuable comments and suggestions at nik@corp.123india.com. If you wanna refer the newsletter to your friends go head and use the 'refer a friend' option' at the bottom of the page. Keep well till I see you again with more of cricket.
With Warm Regards,
Nik - Editor, 123India.com Cricket
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:: ScoreZone
India in West Indies
IND v WI (2nd Test) St Lucia, 10th- 14th June
Sri Lanka in England
SL v ENG (1st ODI) Lord's 17th June
:: BattleNext
India in West Indies
IND v WI (3rd Test) St. Kitts, 22nd- 26th June
IND v WI (4th Test ) Jamaica, 30th June- 4th July

Sri Lanka in England
SL v ENG (2nd ODI) Oval 20th June
SL v ENG (3rd ODI) Chester-le-Street 24th June
SL v ENG (4th ODI) Old Trafford 28th June
:: Did you know ?
Only two test matches have ever been tied - the first between West Indies and Australia at Brisbane in 1960-61 and the second between Australia and India in Madras in 1986-87.
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