ROSEAU-India's top order batsmen fired the visitors to 308–6 and a commanding lead of 104 runs against a depleted West Indies attack in the third and final Test yesterday at Windsor Park. Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni top-scored with 65 not out while there were important half centuries from opener Abhinav Mukund (62), VVS Laxman (56) and Suresh Raina (50) on the third day. The West Indies, handicapped by the absence of fast bowler Ravi Rampaul for most of the day due to illness and trailing 1–0 in the series, had to rely on skipper Darren Sammy (2–28) and Fidel Edwards (2–80). India, resuming on 8–0 after two rain-hit days on Wednesday and Thursday, were quickly in trouble as Edwards and Sammy struck with the new ball.
Murali Vijay's poor tour continued as Edwards found his tentative edge in the day's third over at 13–1, with wicket-keeper Carlton Baugh taking a low catch to dismiss him for five. Five runs later, Sammy grabbed the prized scalp of 153-test veteran Rahul Dravid (5) with a delivery that rocked the middle stump. Mukund and Laxman gradually pulled India around, picking the gaps and punishing any bad balls, in a third wicket stand of 98 either side of lunch. The 21-year-old Mukund, in his debut Test series, reached his maiden half-century just before the interval, off 132 balls. But the left-hander fell soon after lunch to the leg-spin of Devendra Bishoo, deflecting a catch off bat and pad to short leg. Mukund hit three fours in just over three hours. Laxman continued to bat fluently and found another solid partner in Virat Kohli.
The pair added a further 52 for the fourth wicket to put India on top, but the West Indies hit back in the last 45 minutes before tea. Kohli, who compiled 30 off 53 balls with two boundaries, was trapped by Sammy down the leg side, Baugh taking a fine catch standing up to the stumps. Baugh was prominent in the dismissal of Laxman as well, plucking the bails off at exactly the right time as the batsman lifted his back foot after leaving alone a delivery from Chanderpaul. The TV umpire confirmed the freakish dismissal, which gave Chanderpaul, in his record 133rd Test, his ninth Test wicket and left India at the crossroads at 172–5. Laxman struck three fours off 130 balls in 219 minutes. Raina and Dhoni wrestled the initiative from the West Indies in the final session, sharing a sixth wicket stand of 103. Raina compiled his third half century in successive Tests before he was lbw to the first ball of the second new ball from Edwards. (CMC)
Scoreboard
WEST INDIES 1st Innings 204
INDIA 1st innings
(overnight eight without loss)
A Mukund c Barath b Bishoo 62
M Vijay c wkp Baugh b F Edwards 5
R Dravid b Sammy 5
VVS Laxman st Baugh
b Chanderpaul 56
V Kohli c wkp Baugh b Sammy 30
S Raina lbw b F Edwards 50
+MS Dhoni not out 65
Harbhajan Singh not out 12
Extras (b8, lb3, w3, nb9) 23
TOTAL (6 wkts, 98 overs) 308
To bat: P Kumar, I Sharma, M Patel.
Fall of wickets: 1–13 (Vijay), 2–18 (Dravid), 3–116 (Mukund), 4–168 (Kohli), 5–172 (Laxman), 6–275 (Raina)
Bowling: F Edwards 23–3–80–2, Sammy 26–7–48–2, Bishoo 35–2–112–1, K Edwards 4–0–19–0, S Chanderpaul 10–0–38–1.
Position: India lead by 104 runs.
Toss: India.
Umpires: Asad Rauf, R Kettleborough; TV – J Wilson.