Dravid leads India towards safety

West Indies 501 India 395-7

Rahul Dravid recovered from a numbing blow to the helmet to complete his 10th Test hundred and lead India away from the possibility of the follow-on on the fourth day of the first Test here yesterday.

The elegant right-hander had added only two to his overnight 57 when he misjudged a bouncer during an aggressive opening spell from Merv Dillon and ducked into a ball that crashed into the grille of his helmet. It took several minutes of on-field attention from the team physio before he could resume. But the only noticeable effect was a slight swelling of the jaw.

His concentration remained solid and his strokeplay impeccable as he saw India through a rocky period during which they lost three wickets for 12 runs before they reached the 302 required to deny the West Indies the option of the follow-on.

An hour into the second session, Dravid was 135 after seven and a quarter chanceless hours in the middle and India 384 for 7 were gradually closing in on the West Indies total of 501. His defence and his driving that brought him most of his 21 fours were the hallmark's of Dravid's innings.

Dravid was not the only one to cause the West Indies frustration on a pitch still offering their limited attack no encouragement. Sarandeep Singh, the off-spinner in only his third Test, came in at 275 for 7 after V V S Laxman, Sanjay Banger and Anil Kumble had fallen in quick succession and batted with assurance that belied his No 9 position. He helped Dravid rally the Indian innings in an unbroken eighth-wicket partnership of 109, contributing 38 himself.

West Indies quickly flagged after their three successes. Cameron Cuffy, their giant fast bowler, removed Laxman to a low catch to first slip for 69 and claimed Banger lbw on the back foot in his next over.

When Mahendra Nagamootoo claimed a low, diving catch in the gully off Adam Sanford, India were still 27 short of the follow-on target but the West Indies could not complete the job. Prospects of further play receded when, with India on 395 for 7, with Dravid on 144 and Sarandeep on 39, rain set in – and looked as if it might stay for the rest of the day.