WI totter after Indian run feast

After Munaf's fiery spell got Ganga and Sarwan, Kumble trapped Lara to leave the West Indies struggling. Scorecard

After the batsmen posted a mammoth total on board that gave India a firm footing, bowlers too joined in the effort to give West Indies some early jitters and take home the advantage.

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At stumps on Day Two, West Indies were 65/3 with Gayle batting on 34 and Chanderpaul 5 not out.

Munaf Patel bowled a fiery spell early on to dismiss opener Daren Ganga (16) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (0) on consecutive balls to put West Indies on the backfoot. Thereafter, Kumble trapped Brain Lara for just 9 runs to leave the hosts tottering.

In a match that has been a run feast for the Indians, Kaif too joined the party with his maiden century after the Sehwag and Dravid show.

India declared their first innings at 588 for eight following the dismissal of Anil Kumble by Jerome Taylor. Mohammad Kaif remained unbeaten on 148.

Earlier, resuming on the overnight score of 361 for four, Rahul Dravid and Mohammad Kaif played well to consolidate India's position and put the hosts in the driver's seat in the second Test at St Lucia.

Looking to post a huge first innings total, India began the day on an excellent note as skipper Rahul Dravid and Mohammad Kaif continued to frustrate the already battered West Indies.

The new ball bowlers failed to make any early inroads into the Indian batting as Dravid raced to his 23rd century and Kaif played the perfect partner with a half century at the other end.

The two turned the screws on the hosts as they cruised along comfortably.

But Dravid fell two balls before lunch when he lunged to hit a wide delivery from Ramnaresh Sarwan and was caught by Brian Lara at backward point.

He hit a resolute 146 that included 16 hits to the fence. Kaif on the other end put in a solid contribution and with his captain put on a 179-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

Mohammad Kaif too joined the party and brought up his first Test century. He became the third centurion in the Indian innings after Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid.

After Dravid's departure, Dhoni joined Kaif at the crease but he was out on the very first ball when play resumed after bad light caused a slight delay.

Irfan Pathan was the seventh wicket to fall. He was caught by Daren Ganga off a Chris Gayle delivery for 19.

Day 1

Following Virender Sehwag's hurricane knock, skipper Rahul Dravid pitched in to put India on a firm footing in the second Test against West Indies at St Lucia.

At stumps, Rahul Dravid was unbeaten on 95 and Mohammad Kaif was batting on 18. Pedro Collins who grabbed all the four wickets, was clearly the pick of the bowlers for West Indies.

Sehwag's majestic century gave India a blazing start after Dravid elected to bat.

The Nawab of Najafgarh cut loose from the beginning to send the West Indies bowlers on a leather hunt. It was vintage Sehwag all the way before Collins ended his odyssey with a brilliant catch off his own bowling. The opener's magnificent 180 came off just 190 balls and included 20 fours and 2 sixes.

The Delhi batsman was involved in two crucial partnerships that set the tone for India. He combined with Wasim Jaffer for an opening stand of 159 runs and then with skipper Rahul Dravid for a 139-run partnership.

Earlier, India made only one change to the side that played in the first Test at Antigua. After missing the first Test, Irfan Pathan is back in place of injured Sreesanth.

West Indies have dropped spinner Dave Mohammad and brought in Pedro Collins and Jerome Taylor. Fidel Edwards was ruled out of the second Test because of a hamstring injury.

After the drawn first Test in Antigua, both the teams will be looking for a result in St Lucia.

Teams

West Indies : IDR Bradshaw, DJ Bravo, S Chanderpaul, PT Collins, CD Collymore, D Ganga, CH Gayle, BC Lara, D Ramdin, RR Sarwan, JE Taylor

India : MS Dhoni, R Dravid, W Jaffer, M Kaif, A Kumble, VVS Laxman, MM Patel, IK Pathan, V Sehwag, VR Singh, Yuvraj Singh