WEST INDIES v INDIA 1988-89

Winning the toss was a distinct advantage. The pitch was on the green side, and there was a lot of moisture following the long spell of wet weather. The ball moved both in the air and off the seam, and when the pitch had dried out, it provided bounce generously. By lunch, India had lost three wickets, and a fourth, at 68, fell in the first half-hour of the afternoon. There followed a recovery, at the heart of which was a most accomplished 108 by Manjrekar, who was ninth out after batting for 343 minutes, having faced 221 balls and having hit fifteen fours. He and Azharuddin started the revival with a stand of 71, which was followed by another of 79 with Kapil Dev. Azharuddin, hampered by a groin injury and therefore restricted in footwork, batted in an unorthodox fashion which was spectacular but did not inspire confidence. Kapil Dev batted aggressively, yet sensibly, for 34 off 57 balls, passing 4,000 Test runs early in his innings. When More departed quickly, Manjrekar was 62, but he had stout support from Ayub, who stayed with him until he reached his century and helped add 84 for the eighth wicket.

West Indies passed 200 for the loss of only Haynes's wicket, profiting from Greenidge's escape at 8, when Ayub, at long leg, failed to hold his hook from a Chetan Sharma bumper. Greenidge had reached his century off 155 balls (nine fours, one six), but following his dismissal West Indies lost Arthurton and Richards for the addition of only 2 runs. When Logie was out in the last over of the day, they were still 75 behind. Hirwani ousted Arthurton, who played on, and Richards, caught at short leg, in the same over. On the third day Richardson completed a workmanlike 93, made in more than five hours, and with contributions from Dujon and Marshall, West Indies finished 56 ahead. It was not a commanding lead, considering that the pitch was at its easiest at this stage, yet only three hours later victory was well within West Indies' grasp. India lost four wickets before they cleared the deficit, two of them to Marshall who, after bowling within himself in the first innings, was now very hostile. His second wicket, that of Azharuddin, was his 310th in Tests, taking him ahead of L. R. Gibbs as West Indies' highest wicket-taker.

Of the recognised batsmen, Shastri alone survived, and he and More, with a partnership that held ground for 217 minutes and added 132 runs, restored some dignity to India. Marshall yorked More and bowled Ayub in the same over, but Chetan Sharma stayed for the best part of an hour to help Shastri get his century. Last out, Shastri batted for almost seven and a half hours, having spent 196 minutes making his first 17 on the third afternoon. West Indies, under no pressure from the clock, needed 196 to win. With the pitch's bounce uneven - Greenidge was out to a ball that kept low - India should have made them fight for the runs. But Vengsarkar set aggressive fields which his moderate bowlers, particularly Hirwani, were not worthy of. All but 68 of the runs came from the second-wicket partnership between Haynes, unbeaten with 112, including three sixes and twelve fours, and Richardson, whose 59 contained six fours.

Man of the Match: R. J. Shastri.

Close of Play: First day, India 281-7 (S. V. Manjrekar 93*, Arshad Ayub 25*); Second day, West Indies 246-5 (R. B. Richardson 55*); Third day, India 81-6 (R. J. Shastri 17*, K. S. More 14*); Fourth day, West Indies 154-2 (D. L. Haynes 80*, K. L. T. Arthurton 2*).