1448 runs were scored for the loss of 39 wickets and the Test match ended in a draw. More curiously, both the teams scored 724 runs in their two innings combined but one team lost 20 wickets and the other one lost 19. It was the Mumbai Test in 2011 where both India and West Indies ended on the same score but the Test was not a tied one as India were not all out. It was only the second instance of a Test match finished in a draw with the totals equal for both the teams.
West Indies were already 2-0 down in the series and India hoped for a 3-0 whitewash. However, on 22nd November, the first day of the match West Indies started strongly. In fact, they batted for first two days and when they were finally bowled out on the third day morning for 590 everyone knew this would be a boring draw. There was a massive 166 by Darren Bravo and there were five other batsmen who scored half-centuries. Indian bowlers had to toil hard for 185 overs and Ravichandran Ashwin finished with five wickets as the debutant Varun
Aaron picked up three.
India also posted a strong reply and batted for 136 overs to post 482. Sachin Tendulkar was once again dismissed in the nineties, scoring 94. There were also fifties from Rahul Dravid, Gautam Gambhir, and Virat Kohli but the star for Indian batting was Ashwin who scored his maiden Test hundred.
By the end of day four, West Indies reached 81/2 and the match was going towards a tame draw. But on 26th November, the fifth day, things started to happen. In the fifth over of the morning, Kraig Brathwaite was dismissed by Pragyan Ojha. Darren Bravo was the next man to go, also scalped by Ojha and from then on there was a procession. West Indies lost their last seven wickets for 22 runs in 68 balls and suddenly the match was exciting again.
India had a target of 243 in 64 overs and they started attacking. Virender Sehwag scored 60 off 65 balls and India were batting with a run rate more than five till Sehwag was in the middle. The double blow came when they lost Sehwag and Tendulkar in space of 11 deliveries. Dravid was also dismissed soon but a young Virat Kohli built partnerships with VVS Laxman, MS Dhoni, and Ashwin to take India within 20 runs of the target. But Kohli was dismissed by Devendra Bishoo for 63 and India still needed 19 runs in five overs. Runs came slowly and when Ishant Sharma was dismissed by Ravi Rampaul, India still needed four runs from seven balls and West Indies needed two wickets. The debutant Aaron and Ashwin survived and with Ashwin on strike, India required two runs off the last ball. His
strong drive went to long on but his attempt to take two runs was not successful as he was run out and India finished on 242/ 9.
A boring Test match for first four days got a life on day five and delivered one of the most memorable Test matches of this decade.
Check the scorecard here: Scorecard
