Harbhajan takes 400th Test scalp

Updated July 8, 2011 08:22:00

Harbhajan Singh became the 11th bowler in history to capture 400 Test wickets while Ishant Sharma again bowled impressively in the rain-lashed third Test between India and West Indies in Dominica.

India was 0 for 8, replying to West Indies' first innings total of 204, when a combination of rain and bad light stopped play early on the second day at Windsor Park, where only 49.2 over were possible.

Out of the statutory 180 overs that should have been bowled over the first two days, only 80.3 have been completed, as typically seasonal weather has ravaged the Dominica capital, hosting a Test for the first time.

Sharma, the most successful of all the bowlers in the series, upstaged Harbhajan, taking 5 for 77 from 21.3 overs.

His success followed up his 6 for 55 in the first innings of the drawn second Test at Bridgetown, taking his tally in the three-Test series to 21 wickets at 14.04 apiece.

Harbhajan, playing his 96th Test for the Indians, bowled Carlton Baugh for the West Indies top score of 60 about an hour and 20 minutes after lunch to achieve the milestone.

Only former captains Anil Kumble (619) and Kapil Dev (434) have taken more wickets for the visitors than Harbhajan.

He is also the fourth spin bowler to take 400 wickets in Tests, following in the footsteps of fellow off spinner Muttiah Muralidaran of Sri Lanka, whose 800 scalps are the most, Australia's Shane Warne (708), and Kumble.

Harbhajan finished with 2 for 26 from 15 overs and Praveen Kumar took 2 for 22 from 16 overs.

Before lunch India had continued to exploit the brittle West Indies batting line-up, removing Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Marlon Samuels when play resumed 20 minutes later than regularly scheduled with the hosts on their overnight 3 for 75.

Munaf Patel struck in the fourth over of the day when Chanderpaul was slightly squared up by a perfectly-pitched delivery moving away, edged, and was caught behind by India captain and birthday boy MS Dhoni for 23, following a 49-run stand with Bravo.

Kumar tightened India's grip when Samuels, struck on the helmet by a short, rising ball from Patel, attempted a lazy drive at a delivery outside the off-stump and was bowled for 9 dragging the ball onto his stumps off the inside edge, leaving West Indies 5 for 99.

-AFP

Tags: sport, cricket, dominica, india

First posted July 8, 2011 08:21:00

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