Westindies tour of bangladesh 2011 News and updates

[M@zh@R]

Bravo century puts Windies in control

Darren Bravo cracked his maiden Test century to put the West Indies in command on the third day of the series-deciding second and final cricket Test against Bangladesh on Monday.

The left-hander was unbeaten on 100 after Kirk Edwards hit a solid 86 as the West Indies reached 207 for three in its second innings at stumps for an overall lead of 331 runs. Bravo completed his century off the last ball of the day when he cut debutant left-arm spinner Suhrawadi Shuvo for two runs. He has so far hit two sixes and seven fours in his 165-ball knock.

The tourist, leading by 124 runs on the first innings, consolidated its position as Bravo and Edwards put on 151 for the third-wicket after openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Keiran Powell had fallen cheaply. The opening Test of the two-match series ended in a draw in Chittagong.

Edwards, who scored 121 in the first innings, looked set to score his second hundred of the Test when he fell in the closing overs of the day, bowled by Shuvo after hitting one six and seven fours in his 204-ball knock.
Newspaper:The Hindu, 1st Nov

 

[Karthik]

W.i.355 & 383/5 dec
bang.231 & 164/3

 

[Karthik]

W.i.355 & 383/5 dec
bang.231 & 164/3

 

[M@zh@R]

Bishoo hands West Indies series win

Leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo grabbed five wickets for 90 as the West Indies trounced Bangladesh by 229 runs in the second Test in Dhaka on Wednesday to win its first away series in eight years.

Bangladesh, which was set an improbable victory target of 508, was shot out for 278 soon after lunch on the fifth day at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium.

Bishoo, the Guyanese bowler who turns 26 on Sunday, returned with career-best figures in only his seventh Test and skipper Darren Sammy chipped in with two for 19 to rout the hosts.

The emphatic win after the drawn first match in Chittagong will provide a massive morale-booster for Sammy's men, who begin a three-Test series in India on Sunday.

It was the first series win away from home for the West Indies since November 2003, when it beat Zimbabwe 1-0. Its last Test win abroad was against South Africa in Port Elizabeth in December 2007.

“This feels very good,” said Sammy. “We knew it was going to be difficult, but this was just reward due to the efforts from the guys and the coaching staff.

“It was good to see the way we came together. The coach (Ottis Gibson) focuses on constant improvements, and we showed that in this series. It was a complete team effort.”

Sammy's team won despite the absence of star batsman Chris Gayle, who has not played international cricket since the World Cup earlier this year due to differences with the West Indies Cricket Board.
Newspaper:The Hindu, 3rd Nov

 

[M@zh@R]

Laxman raring to have a go at WI

The fact that V.V.S. Laxman preferred to be at the gym on the morning on his 37th birthday on Tuesday to keep himself fit is perhaps a fair indication of the intensity with which he has been preparing for the upcoming series against West Indies at home and Australia in Australia.

“The series against West Indies might well be the beginning of our campaign to regain the No. 1 Test status,” said Laxman in an exclusive interview with The Hindu before leaving to join the Indian team.

“After the dismal series in England, the Tests against West Indies are very important. We hope to start on a very positive note and get back into the winning mood once again ahead of the Australian tour,” he said.

“In Test cricket, no team can be a push-over. You can never underestimate any team at this level. And, mind you, the West Indies is a side with some very talented cricketers. Importantly it seems to be playing to its potential in Bangladesh,” he added.

“When you play for your country, everything else takes a backseat. I always believed in staying focussed on the immediate challenges. And I look at West Indies series as yet another one,” said Laxman. “For me, the preparations have been the same since I made my Test debut in 1996,” he added.

“It is good that India got the winning feeling back when it drubbed England in the one-day series at home. It is an important result for the Test team too as it prepares for the long journey ahead to be back at the top in this format of the game,” said Laxman.

“I think we should not bother too much about the opposition's strong-points or weaknesses. I always believed that it is imperative that we play to our strengths instead of looking too much at the rival side.”
Newspaper:The Hindu, 3rd Nov