West Indies 77 runs ahead, 318 for six to India's 241 all out

St John's, Antigua, Jun 4 (UNI) West Indies batsmen flourished on the same pitch where Indian batsmen floundered to take a vital 77-run lead at the close of second day's play of the first Test here.

Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Dwayne Bravo all scored half-centuries as the hosts took apart inexperienced Indian seam attack and ended the day on 318 for the loss of six wickets.

After India were bundled out for 241 early in the morning, it was Gayle show that lit up the Antigua Recreation Centre.

The West Indian opener shone but not before India struck early to take the wicket of Darren Ganga.

Sreesanth opened the attack for India and bowled a good first over that tested Ganga's off stump twice. Gayle survived a very close call for LBW off Munaf Patel in the second over of the West Indies innings. However, in typical Gayle style, the tall left-hander from Jamaica slashed hard at wide delivery next ball and saw the ball fly over slip cordon for the first four of the day.

But, Munaf returned the next over to trap Ganga plumb in front of the wicket for nine. Gayle then negated all the early advantage with some savage shots that reminded more of one day batsmanship than that seen in the longer version of the game.

India were fielding without a thirdman and as many as three fours went past that area easing the pressure on the West Indies openers. Gayle was in a punishing mood and the fall of early wicket didn't deter him. He cut Sreesanth for a boundary over slips and then hit Munaf on the on-side boundary to keep the scoreboard ticking. If that was not enough, Gayle lofted Sreesanth straight over his head for a massive six in the seventh over. He hit two more boundaries in the same over to take the West Indies score past fifty in only the ninth over of the innings.

Skipper Rahul Dravid had to take Sreesanth off the attack and debutant VRV Singh was brought in. VRV was the fastest of Indian seamers but didn't taste any success. At lunch, West Indies were 81 for one with Gayle batting on 45 and Sarwan on 19.

Gayle was more sober self after lunch as he got near his fifty. He soon completed his 23rd Test fifty as Indian bowlers struggled to make any break-through. Sreesanth continued to bowl short of length and was regularly taken around the park.

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