Windies decide not to impose follow on, take 332-run lead

Basseterre, St Kitts, June 26 (UNI) India were saved the humilliation of following on despite falling 20 runs short of the required 382 as West Indies decided to bat again and took a 332-run lead ending the fourth day at 113 for four in the third Test here.

Even a brilliant hundred by VVS Laxman did not help much as India were all out for 342 but West Indies captain Brian Lara decided against enforcing the follow on.

West Indies lost four wickets in the evening to end the day at 113 for four. The hosts lost three quick wickets in their second innings trying to accelerate the run rate.

Chris Gayle and Daren Ganga came out with clear intentions to slog from the very beginning but Gayle didn't last long and edged S Sreesanth to keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni for three.

Next to follow was first innings century maker Ramnaresh Sarwan who also fell to Sreesanth at 23 leaving the West Indies at 46 for two.

Skipper Brian Lara scored 19 of only 15 balls lofting Anil Kumble for a mighty six. But the leg spinner had the last laugh when he had Lara drawn out of crease and stumped by Dhoni.

At stumps Ganga was batting on 41 and Dwayne Bravo was unbeaten on nine.

The day began disastrously for India as Jerome Taylor struck thrice in two overs. Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif all departed in quick succession.

The West Indies pacers had learnt their lessons well and instead of bowling in the channel outside off stump, they were sticking to the wicket to wicket line and were concentrating in bringing the ball in.

Taylor was particularly impressive and was handsomely rewarded.

First to go in the morning was Dravid who couldn't get his eyes in and was out leg before to Taylor for 22.

More damage was to come from Taylor in his next over. He extended Yuvraj Singh's poor run in the Test series by moving the ball slightly away from the left hander.

Yuvraj's bat was hung in air as it managed a nick to keeper Ramdin. Kaif was out leg before two balls later to leave India at 159 for five.

Kaif, however, was unlucky as the ball looked to be going down the leg stump and also appeared to go over stumps. But the umpire thought that the appeal was fair.

The day belonged to VVS Laxman who scored his 10th Test hundred and almost single handedly saved the follow on. Always under pressure to prove his place in the side, Laxman played a crucial knock with the tail-enders.

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