India suffer early setback chasing 180

[1]

India suffered an early setback in their hunt for a victory target of 180 in the third Test against West Indies on Sunday, reaching 19 for one in their second innings at tea.

India lost Abhinav Mukund lbw for a duck, playing back and across to the first delivery of the innings from Fidel Edwards in the brief passage of play before the break on the last day of the inaugural Test at Windsor Park.

This followed part-time off-spinner Suresh Raina claiming the last two West Indies wickets, as the hosts were bowled out for 322 in their second innings about 45 minutes before tea.

Raina finished with 2-32 from 15.3 overs, but Harbhajan Singh was the most successful bowler for the visitors with 4-75 from 42 overs.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul ended with the West Indies' top score of an undefeated 116, his 23rd Test hundred, making the occasion of his record 133rd appearance extra special.

He added a valuable 65 for the ninth wicket with Fidel Edwards, whose 30 was a career-best, and made him the object of great frustration for India.

But Raina had Edwards caught at long-off following a near three-hour long act of resistance, and in his following over, brought the curtain down on the West Indies' innings, when he had Devendra Bishoo caught at slip for one.

India had met defiance from West Indies before lunch, when Chanderpaul rallied the lower order to lead the home team to 294 for eight at the interval.

Chanderpaul became the second century-maker in the West Indies second innings, following Kirk Edwards' maiden hundred of 110 on debut the previous day.

The veteran West Indies left-hander tucked a short, rising delivery from Ishant Sharma through backward square leg for two to reach the milestone from 265 balls.

He and Edwards had started to frustrate the visitors, after West Indies slid to 256 for eight in the first hour.

India had looked in charge after West Indies continued from their overnight total of 224 for six, and lost their captain Darren Sammy and left-hander Ravi Rampaul in the space of four deliveries.

Harbhajan was fortunate when Sammy was caught at forward short leg for 17, playing defensively forward.

TV replays suggested that umpire Richard Kettleborough may have been a little hasty with his decision, the ball touched neither Sammy's bat or glove.

The visitors got another break when Rampaul was run out for one, failing to beat Sharma's direct hit at the striker's end from backward point, going for a single.

India however, failed to wrap up the West Indies innings before the interval, with Chanderpaul farming the bowling, and Edwards prepared to mix sound defence with typical tail-ender's bravado.

India hold a 1-0 lead in the three Test series, following a 63-run victory inside four days in Jamaica, and a draw in the second Test at Barbados.

The visitors are looking to wrap up their second straight Test series victory over West Indies in the Caribbean.

They are also looking to create a piece of history by becoming the first Indian side to win a Test and One-day International series in the Caribbean.