India v West Indies - Second Test

Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

India: SM Gavaskar, MH Mankad, M Amarnath, VS Hazare, M Azharuddin, *MAK Pataudi, Kapil Dev, +SMH Kirmani, M Prabhakar, EAS Prasanna, BS Chandrasekhar.
West Indies: CG Greenidge, DL Haynes, GA Headley, RB Kanhai, IVA Richards, *GStA Sobers, +PJL Dujon, MD Marshall, LR Gibbs, CA Walsh, AL Valentine.

Debuts: AL Valentine (WI)
Umpires: Khizer Hayat (PAK) & RS Dunne (NZL)
Toss: India

Faced with a pitch that was expected to turn almost from the off, both sides made alterations in their slow bowling ranks, India recalling Prasanna in place of Venkat whilst West Indies handed a debut to Alf Valentine as Michael Holding dropped out of the XI. It was pace that reduced India to a decidedly precarious 67-5 on the first morning though, with Courtney Walsh in particular extracting some early life from the wicket, but the tail wagged to great effect under Pataudi's guidance, and a first innings total of 289 represented a commendable comeback for the hosts.

Pataudi was dropped by Richards on 51, but his first ATG century was thoroughly deserved, and after Prasanna (19*) and Chandrasekhar (a career-high 17) frustrated West Indies with a last wicket stand of 35 on the second morning, India took control as their spinners gave the tourists a lesson in how to bowl on a dusting Wankhede wicket. The swing of Prabhakar removed both openers cheaply, and only a sixth wicket stand of 77 between Sobers and Dujon propped up the innings as Prasanna completed a five wicket haul on his recall.

West Indies were eventually bowled out for 203 an hour before stumps on the second evening, conceding a lead of 86 to India, but by lunch on the following the day they were right back in the game as the Indian top order failed for the second time in the match. Led by a rampant Malcolm Marshall, West Indies' pace attack left the innings in tatters at 51-7 half an hour before lunch on the third day, and one more wicket would surely have sealed the deal for the tourists. Pataudi was still there though, and there were to be no further breakthroughs until after tea as he and Prabhakar set about compiling the second highest eighth wicket stand in ATG history. Prabhakar nudged and nurdled his way to 71, his highest ever score, whilst Pataudi batted in an appropriately princely fashion to reach his second century of the match, the pair adding a remarkable 158 in just 43 overs as the game slipped away from West Indies.

Gibbs and Valentine were simply unable to take advantage of what should have been favourable conditions, and India's final total of 235 set West Indies a daunting target of 322 to win both the match and the series. Greenidge again went early, but fifties from Haynes and Kanhai took the tourists to the relatively comfortable position of 179-3 early on the fourth afternoon, and one could sense the feeling uneasiness that was building around the ground. West Indies lost Kanhai and Sobers in quick succession at this point though, and India grabbed the chance they had been given with both hands. Richards played his way back into some form with a belligerent 67, but he soon ran out of partners and became one of Prasanna's nine victims in the match as India's spinners again scythed their way through the tail.

West Indies lost their last five wickets for just 18 on the way to being bowled out for 240, and India's victory by 81 runs ties up the series ahead of the third and final Test in Chennai. Spin had been the key here, with Prasanna, Chandrasekhar and Mankad picking up seventeen wickets between them compared to the four claimed by Gibbs and Valentine, but it was the twin centuries of skipper Pataudi that will be forever remembered, his second innings partnership with Prabhakar capping one of the greatest comeback victories in the ATG history book.

Scores
IND 1st Inns 289 (Pataudi 106, Kapil Dev 43, Gavaskar 41; Walsh 4-68)
WI 1st Inns 203 (Dujon 55, Sobers 44, Kanhai 41; Prasanna 5-54)
IND 2nd Inns 235 (Pataudi 101, Prabhakar 71; Marshall 4-55)
WI 2nd Inns 240 (Kanhai 71, Richards 67, Haynes 53; Prasanna 4-73)

INDIA WON BY 81 RUNS


Man of the Match: MAK Pataudi