BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - NEVISIAN batsman Kieran Powell was the lone shining star in a poor batting display by the West Indies cricket team in the final Test of the two-match series against India.
Having displayed a poor batting performance in the first Test, the West Indians hoped for an improvement and was asked to bat first by Indian captain MS Dhoni and lost Chris Gayle early.
Powell survived a nervous start, which included a drop catch at slip, and put together the only substantial partnership of the West Indies innings with Darren Bravo.
According to a report in the ‘India Today’, Powell and Bravo gave the innings momentum with a 61-run partnership. Powell was aggressive in his approach and was not afraid to use his feet against spin while Bravo delighted the crowd with some classy shots.
Powell was eventually dismissed for 48 by Pragyan Ojha after the lunch interval.
The Windies however lost their way after lunch and slipped from 140 for 3 to 182 all out, as the spin pair of R Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha ripped through the batting.
In response, India's openers maltreated the West Indian bowlers as they put on 77 for the first wicket, scoring at a run a ball pace.
West Indies then turned to spinner Shane Shillingford who struck twice in an over to remove both openers and received boisterous cheers from the Indian fans as one of the wickets brought Sachin Tendulkar to the batting crease, in what could be his final innings.
After missing out in the first Test, Tendulkar turned back the hand of time and played his natural game with a lot of poise alongside Cheteshwar Pujara.
The day ended with India at 157-2, trailing the West Indians by 25 runs with Tendulkar not out on 38.
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