Antigua Test: Bravo puts WI in command

India suffered another batting collapse on Day One of the first Test. Scorecard

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.

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After skipper Rahul Dravid elected to bat, Windies pacers bowled an impeccable line to reduce India to 235/9 at stumps. 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, playing his 100th Test, fought a lone battle even as wickets kept tumbling regularly at the other end. After a steely 49 off 173 balls, he became Corey Collymore's third victim when he edged him to Lara who took a simple catch at slips.

Opening batsmen Wasim Jaffer (1) and Virender Sehwag (36), and VVS Laxman (29), all returned to the pavilion after offering regulation catch to the slip cordon in the morning session to leave India teetering at 74/3 at lunch.

India suffered the first vital blow when Fidel Edwards struck for West Indies to pack Wasim Jaffer cheaply in his second over. Jaffer fell after edging a lifting delivery from Fidel Edwards to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin for 1 run.

After the fall of Jaffer's wicket, India fought back with a 41-run second-wicket stand between Sehwag and Laxman, but the introduction of Collymore paid immediate benefits for the Windies. He struck on his very first delivery when Sehwag's edge carried to Brian Lara at second slip. The Delhi opener cracked seven boundaries for his 36 which came off 37 balls.

Laxman, who looked in good touch, was scalped by Dwayne Bravo. The Hyderabadi batsman lost his patience and edged a full-length delivery that went straight to Ramdin just one over before lunch.

He made 29 runs from 74 balls with five hits to the fence.

The in-form Yuvraj Singh and skipper Rahul Dravid then led the recovery with their watchful innings before the former failed to read Dave Mohammed and was bowled by the left arm spinner. The southpaw was involved in a 54-run partnership with the skipper before he was dismissed for 23.

After Yuvraj's return, Kaif and Dravid strived to continue the rebuilding process but the former failed to support his captain and fell for just 13 runs caught behind by Ramdin off a Bravo delivery. India were then 155 for five.

Collymore then had Mahendra Singh Dhoni caught at slips by Lara. The swashbuckler contributed just 19 runs to the total.

Thereafter, Anil Kumble and S Sreesanth put on a strong rearguard action before Kumble was bowled by Dwayne Bravo for 21 runs. Kumble and Sreesanth put on an invaluable 47-run partnership to take India past the 200-run mark.

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).