Daijiworld Media Network - Sports

Nov 24: The wall shines yet again. Thursday November 24 turned out to be a good day again for Rahul Dravid as he became the second player to cross 13,000 runs in Test cricket as India reached 172 for two in the first innings, in reply to the West Indies' 590, at tea on the third day of the final cricket Test at the Wankhede Stadium.

Just yesterday Dravid was named for Polly Umrigar Best Cricketer Award for 2010-11 by BCCI and today too was Drvaid's day.

He was batting on 52 and Tendulkar 20 at the break as India scored 98 runs during the second session.

Dravid and Tendulkar added 34 runs for their unfinished third-wicket stand. The crowd awaiting patiently for Tendulkar's impending 100th international gave the local boy a standing ovation when he walked in after the dismissal of Gautam Gambhir (55, 99 balls, 8x4).

Gambhir and Sehwag (37) gave India a brisk start with their 67-run stand after off-spinner Ravichandran Aswhin (5/156) picked up his second five-wicket haul to bowl out the West Indies early for 590 runs within 15 minutes of the morning play.

The opening pair set the tone with a flurry of crisply timed boundaries and Sehwag brought up the 50 runs of the innings with a huge six off West Indies skipper Darren Sammy's first over.

Sammy, however, was rewarded for his accuracy in his third over when he pitched it just short of driving length and it nipped back slightly to rattle Sehwag's stumps.

India were 74/1 at lunch break, and in the second session Gambhir and Dravid led India's response with their 71-run stand for the second-wicket. Dravid reached the milestone of 13,000 runs with a classic drive for four off Sammy as he moved from 19 to 23.

Gambhir reached his half-century with a lofty shot over mid-wicket off Sammy and a ball later caressed the medium-pacer for a four between mid-on and mid-wicket.

The re-introduction of fast bowler Ravi Rampaul in the attack did the trick of the West Indies. Gambhir was well set for a big innings but in his attempt to pull a high bouncer edged it to wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh.

Early in the day, the West Indies resuming at 575/9, survived just 3.1 overs before folding up for 590. Ashwin, who bagged five for 156, struck in the fourth over of the day to castle Devendra Bishoo (12) to end the 24-run last-wicket stand with Fidel Edwards, who remained unbeaten on 11.