E-Paper
1st Test: Jaffer anchors Indian revival
The Mumbai opener hit a patient ton to propel India to a crucial 85-run lead at stumps on the third day. Scorecard
After a poor outing in first innings, Jaffer hit a patient century to anchor the Indian fight back and propel a crucial 85-run lead.
At Stumps on Day Three, India were 215/2 with Jaffer batting on 113 and Dravid 21 not out.
The Mumbai opener's second Test hundred came at the most appropriate time for India and included 11 hits to the fence.
After failing to fire in the first innings, openers Sehwag and Jaffer put in a much better performance in the second innings to give India a solid start with 72-run partnership for the first wicket.
Just when it looked that the Indians were running away away with the game, Collymore struck to provide the much needed breakthrough for West Indies.
He got Sehwag to edge to Chris Gayle at slip, who juggled before catching the ball in the third attempt. Sehwag's innings was studded with six fours and one six.
Sehwag's departure brought Laxman to the crease. The stylish Hyderabadi Bataman then put 71 runs for the second wicket with Jaffer before he was caught by Ian Bradshaw off a Dave Mohammad delivery for 31.
After the fall of Laxman's wicket, Jaffer was joined by Dravid.
Earlier, West Indies were bowled out for 371 runs in their first innings on the third day after having taken a sizable 130-run lead over India's first innings total of 241 runs.
Resuming on the overnight score of 318 for six, Ramdin and Ian Bradshaw added 13 runs on before Ramdin was caught behind by Mahendra Singh Dhoni off a Munaf Patel delivery.
India, looking to wrap up the West Indies tail early, had something to smile for as Munaf Patel struck with the new ball to remove Denesh Ramdin for 26.
Debutante V R V Singh then bowled a fiery spell to pick up his maiden Test wicket. His first dismissal was that of overnight batsman Ian Bradshaw who scored 33 runs with six fours.
Singh's other victim was Fidel Edwards who was caught behind by wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Anil Kumble picked up the final wicket trapping Corey Collymore leg before for naught.
Patel and Kumble picked up three wickets each while two wickets each were claimed by VRV Singh and Sehwag.
Day 2
After a superb show in the field to restrict India to 241, flashy opener Chris Gayle set off at a scorching pace to built on the advantage that the bowlers had provided them on the opening day.
The hosts finished the day at 318/6 at stumps with a healthy lead of 77 runs propelled by some brilliant batting display. After Gayle's onslaught, Sarwan and Bravo pitched in to guide Windies to a dominating position on Day 2.
Gayle and Sarwan hammered the Indian pacers to all parts of the ground after the early loss of Daren Ganga to bolster the Windies to a commanding position.
Day 1
India made a disappointing start to the Test series as they suffered yet another top order collapse on the opening day of the first Test against West Indies in Antigua on Friday.
After skipper Rahul Dravid elected to bat, Windies pacers bowled an impeccable line to reduce India to 235/9 at stumps on Day One. Bravo (37/4) and Collymore (27/3) were the top bowlers for the hosts who carried on the form of the ODIs into the Test.
Dravid (49), playing his 100th Test, fought a lone battle even as wickets kept tumbling regularly at the other end.
Earlier, India left out Harbhajan Singh and Irfan Pathan while giving the maiden Test cap to Punjab seamer Vikram Rajvir Singh in a three-pronged pace attack.
West Indies saw the return of Shivnarine Chanderpaul who did not play the final two one-dayers because of a hamstring injury.
Teams:
India: Rahul Dravid (captain), Wasim Jaffer, Virender Sehwag, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Mohd Kaif, M S Dhoni, Anil Kumble, S Sreesanth, Munaf Patel and VRV Singh.
West Indies: Brian Lara (captain), Christopher Gayle, Daren Ganga, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Ian Bradshaw, Corey Collymore, Fidel Edwards and Dave Mohammed.
Umpires: Simon Taufel (Aus) and Asad Rauf (Pak).
