India Take Advantage Of West Indian Problems

India Take Advantage Of West Indian Problems

Mahendra Singh Dhoni scored an unbeaten 65 as India build a lead over the West Indies

©REUTERS/Mike Hutchings (SOUTH AFRICA - Tags: SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

West Indies 204 (Baugh 60, Sharma 5-77) v
India 308-6 (Dhoni 65no, Mukund 62)
Third Test, Dominica, day three
Scorecard

India took advantage of a threadbare West Indian attack to establish a 104-run lead by stumps on day three of the third and final Test in Dominica.

All three West Indian pace bowlers struggled with injury, loading a huge burden on leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo with Shivnarine Chanderpaul grabbing a rare wicket and Kirk Edwards bowling for the first time in first-class cricket.

Premier fast bowler Ravi Rampaul only took the field in the final 30 minutes of play, Fidel Edwards bowled at well below his full pace but managed a wicket with each new ball and captain Darren Sammy clean bowled Rahul Dravid but also struggled with injury and was bowling off a short run towards the end of the day.

In amongst the carnage of the West Indies' rapidly diminishing bowling reserves, Abhinav Mukund scored a graceful maiden Test half-century, Suresh Raina his fifth in total and third of the series and Mahendra Singh Dhoni became the first Indian wicket-keeper to reach 3000 Test runs as India closed on 308 for six in reply to the home side's 204 all out.

Fidel Edwards struck first to have Murali Vijay caught by wicket-keeper Carlton Baugh for five before Dravid missed a straight delivery having made the same score to leave India in trouble at 18 for two.

India then had a fine 98-run stand between Mukund (62) and the ever-reliable VVS Laxman (56) to thank for getting their innings back on track.

With the West Indies flagging, they quickly lost the advantage they had gained with two early wickets and the partnership was broken when Mukund was caught at short leg by Adrian Barath off Bishoo, who closed having bowled 35 overs, taking one for 112.

Fellow Guyanese leg-spinner Chanderpaul picked up his ninth Test wicket when Laxman was surprisingly stumped by Baugh.

Virat Kohli made a fluent 30 before he was caught by Baugh off Sammy but the wickets of Kohli and Laxman were followed by 103-run partnership between Raina and Dhoni.

Raina continued his fine form of the series with 50 in 103 balls before Edwards had him trapped in front with a swinging delivery with the first delivery with the new ball.

Dhoni progressed neatly, particularly given his lack of form in the series so far, to close unbeaten on 65 in 109 balls and alongside him was Harbhajan Singh , who had made 12.

The day was the first that was not badly affected by the rain - the opening day saw the West Indies close on 75 for three and day two saw them add 129 further runs before India reached stumps on eight without loss.

India lead the series 1-0.

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