West Indies battling to avoid defeat

NORTH SOUND, Antigua (CMC):

Wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich struck his second half-century in only his third Test, but West Indies were staring at a possible innings defeat after being forced to follow-on by India, on the third day of the opening Test yesterday.

Resuming the day on 31 for one, the Caribbean side were bundled out for 243 in reply to India's massive 566 for eight declared, to trail by 323 runs on first innings at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.

They crashed to 144 for seven in the final session, but the 24-year-old Dowrich stroked a classy unbeaten 57 and captain Jason Holder hit a fluent 36 to prop up the innings.

Opener Kraigg Brathwaite had earlier carried his overnight unbeaten 14 to a top score of 74, and took the fight to the Indians for the better part of two sessions.

But the innings was undermined by seamers Umesh Yadav (4-41) and fellow seamer Mohammed Shami (4-66), who finished with four wickets apiece while leg-spinner Amit Mishra claimed two for 43.

Leg before wicket

In their second turn at the crease, West Indies were plunged into strife as early as the opening over when Brathwaite was leg before wicket to pacer Ishant Sharma for two with the score two.

Darren Bravo, unbeaten on 10, and opener Rajendra Chandrika, on nine, saw West Indies safely to the close, still requiring a further 302 runs to make India bat again.

Needing a huge batting effort to make inroads into their deficit at the start, West Indies made it through the first hour without losing a wicket as Brathwaite and nightwatchman Devendra Bishoo (12) extended their second-wicket stand to 38 before being separated.

Bishoo, yet to score at the start of play, frustrated India for over an hour, facing 43 balls and striking two fours before falling in the fourth over after the first drinks break, on 68 for two.

The left-hander missed a cross-batted shot at Mishra and was stumped after failing to anchor his back leg.

Bravo showed little signs of discomfort during his 33-ball stay at the crease for 11, adding 22 with Brathwaite to keep West Indies steady.

However, he perished nine balls before lunch when he nibbled at one from seamer Mohammed Shami that bounced and left him slightly, to give wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha the second of five catches and six dismissals overall.

SCOREBOARD

INDIA 1st innings 566-8 decl.

WEST INDIES 1st innings

(overnight 31 for one)

K. Brathwaite c wk Saha b Yadav 74

R. Chandrika c wk Saha b Mohammed Shami 16

D. Bishoo st Saha b Mishra 12

D.M. Bravo c wk Saha b Mohammed Shami 11

M. Samuels c wk Saha b Mohammed Shami 1

J. Blackwood c Rahane b Mohammed Shami 0

R. Chase c Kohli b Yadav 23

+S. Dowrich not out 57

*J. Holder c wk Saha b Yadav 36

C. Brathwaite b Yadav 0

S. Gabriel b Mishra 2

Extras (b4, lb2, w2, nb3) 11

TOTAL (all out, 90.2 overs) 243

Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-68, 3-90, 4-92, 5-92, 6-139, 7-144, 8-213, 9-213, 10-243.

Bowling: Sharma 20-7-44-0 (nb3), Yadav 18-8-41-4, Shami 20-4-66-4 (w2), Ashwin 17-5-43-0, Mishra 15.2-4-43-2.

WEST INDIES 2nd Innings (following-on)

K. Brathwaite lbw b Sharma 2

R. Chandrika not out 9

D.M. Bravo not out 10

Extras (0)

TOTAL (1 wkt, 13 overs) 21

Fall of wicket: 1-2.

Bowling: Sharma 4-2-3-1, Shami 4-3-2-0, Yadav 3-1-8-0, Ashwin 2-0-8-0.

Toss: India.

Umpires: Aleem Dar, I Gould; TV - G Brathwaite.