Jaffer knocks whooping 172 as India reach 308 at lunch

St John's, Antigua, Jun 5 (UNI) Wasim Jaffer led Indian fight-back with a personal best of 172 not out as India went to lunch at 308 for two on the fourth day of the Antigua Test.

Jaffer accelerated the scoring rate on the fourth morning as India took a lead of 178 runs and still have eight wickets in hand.

Dravid is giving company to Jaffer on 50.

Jaffer played some beautiful shots on his way to 150, even though he had a tentative start. In the second over of the day Jaffer edged a Bravo delivery that just missed the Gayle's reach. In the same over Jaffer made a beautiful cover drive to the fence to add to his overnight score.

Jaffer looked in imperious touch and some of his shots that stood out were a straight drive past the bowler for four and a sweetly timed on drive for another one that also raised his score to 150.

Jaffer drove and cut with aplomb as the West Indies players' shoulders drooped against his onslaught. Runs came in quick time, but there was no sign of rash stroke-play. Instead, Jaffer played with straight bat and regularly found the gaps with his orthodox batting. Collymore coming from far end tested Jaffer a bit with some movement outside off stump just before Lunch.

Jaffer's innings of 172 not out has yielded 20 fours and one six so far.

Rahul Dravid proved an excellent foil to Jaffer as he kept rotating the strike with singles. When the Indian captain reached 45, he also completed 1000 Test runs against West Indies. His half century, which came close by is his 43rd test fifty and the 7th against the West Indies.

Jaffer and Dravid added 93 runs in the first session. West Indies sorely missed the services of Fidel Edwards who didn't take to the field due to the hamstring pull he sustained yesterday.

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