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WI chin music has India singing blues

Only Dravid hit a fifty to show some mettle as the rest succumbed to Taylor's pace on the first day. Scorecard

Updated on: Jul 2, 2006, 01:38:00 IST
None | By , Kingston (Jamaica)
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Jerome Taylor triggered a mighty Indian collapse to bowl out the visitors for 200 as the Caribbean chin music left India singing blues on the opening day of the final Test against the West Indies on Friday.

HT Image
HT Image

The rookie fast bowler was the star performer for the hosts with his first five-wicket match-haul in Test cricket which sent the Indians into a tailspin.

Only skipper Rahul Dravid with his toilsome fifty showed some mettle to stand tall among ruins along with old stager Anil Kumble who played a supporting role.

Earlier, looking for a win to break the stalemate after the first three Tests ended in draw, Dravid's decision to bat misfired as India lost both their openers for just three runs on board.

Pedro Collins gave West Indies a dream start when he struck in the very first over of the match to dismiss swashbuckling Sehwag for a duck.

Wasim Jaffer also did not last long. He made one run before he was bowled by Taylor and India were three for two.

In between, Sarwan had to be taken off the field after he was hit on the knee from a Jaffer shot.

After the openers' departure, India clambered along with both Dravid and Laxman making tardy progress in terms of scoring runs.

But after two lucky reprieves in the morning session, Laxman fell to Bravo in the very first over after lunch to leave India in shambles. At this point, India were tottering at 34/3, failing to find firm ground after early upheaval.

Taylor's devastating pace sent the visitors into a flurry as they failed to recover after the early jolts.

After a brief but promising stay at the crease, Yuvraj also gave in as he was trapped in front by Taylor.

The next batsman Kaif failed to take advantage of the reprieve he got when on zero. He perished to Lara in the slips for 13 while playing the same shot.

This brought Dhoni to the crease, but he too never looked comfortable. He tried to force a cut off Collymore and edged a catch to Bravo.

Only Kumble, in keeping with his recent good run with the bat, was positive and hit a well-compiled 45 which comprised of 7 hits to the fence before he was bowled out by Bravo.

Just when Dravid was beginning to open up, Collymore struck to crack the Wall. He was caught behind for a laborious 81 which included 10 hits to the fence.

Thereafter, Taylor struck again to remove Sreesanth for a duck, his fourth victim in the innings.

Earlier, both the hosts and the visitors went into the all-important Test with an unchanged side from the third Test.

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