India at 200 for 2 wickets

Basseterre, St Kitts, June 26 (UNI) India was 200 for 2, chasing the score of 392 runs for victory, at tea break of the last day of third test.

VVS Laxman was batting on 50 not out and captain Dravid was unbeaten on 20.

West Indies struck the first ball after lunch to remove Virender Sehwag. India's any hope of outside chance depended on Sehwag. But Sehwag was out lbw to Collymore on the first ball after lunch for 65.

VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid batted the rest of the session without losing their wickets as one more test looks heading for a draw.

Dravid was stoic in defense as usual, extra vigilant in his batting to avoid any problems. But it was Laxman who lit up the stands once again with his sublime touch. Ninetyone runs were added in the session, with Laxman doing the bulk of scoring at 50 not out.

Earlier, it was an exciting first session in which 168 runs were scored. Starting from overnight score of 113 runs for 4 wickets, West Indies batted for another 8 overs in the day and added 59 runs in 8 overs and lost two wickets in the process. Darren Ganga remained not out on 66 of 75 balls that included six hits to the fence. Samuels also made a quick 20 to set a challenging target.

Indian coach Greg Chappell had hinted yesterday that whatever the target is is it is best to go for it rather than play for draw as that would put more pressure on his batsmen. Sehwag and Jaffer began in right earnest.

Jaffer has been in good form and he played with ease rotating the strike. But it was mercurial opener Virender Sehwag who lived a charmed life and yet found enough boundaries to send West Indies skipper Brian Lara to the lunch table with some ceases on his forehead.

Sehwag was let off twice in his innings so far. First in the fourth over he edged Taylor to slips but Gayle at first slip dropped an easy chance. Seeing that Sehwag was going for the target, Brian Lara took more protection on the off side. He also set an interesting field position, putting a man each at short cover and short extra cover to latch on to anything that Sehwag plays in air.

Sehwag has a tendency to play in the cover region and Lara's ploy almost succeeded when on 56 Viru hit Bravo in the air. But Sarwan at short extra cover couldn't catch hold to the powerful drive and Sehwag was let off once again.

In between these twe chances Sehwag flourished and regularly pierced a strongly guarded off side boundary. He scored 65 runs in 74 balls with 8 fours by lunch. Jaffer was batting on 35 off 83 deliveries. India need another 283 runs with all ten wickets remaining. At least 62 more overs would be bowled today, leaving India with an asking rate of 4.56 runs per over.

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