Moist pitch helps WI, India 102/6 at tea

Kingston, Jamaica, June 30 (UNI) With the moist pitch offering bounce, West Indies bowlers continued to spell disaster for Indian batsmen, taking four more wickets in the post lunch session of the last test.

India went to tea at 102 for 6. Dravid was carrying Indian hopes batting on 35 off 136 deliveries while Kumble was giving him company on 8.

If the first session was tough to handle for India, the one following was extremely torrid. India continued to score runs at a rate lower than 2 runs per over.

The pitch was offering bounce but Indian batsmen also allowed the rival bowlers to dominate terms by going in a shackle of their own.

As many as 21 maidens were bowled before tea, nine of them coming from Collymore adding on to the pressure on Indian team.

India lost Laxman immediately after lunch when he edged Bravo to substitute Runako Morton for 18. Laxman faced 96 balls for his 18 and India were 34 for three.

Yuvraj Singh was dropped a couple of overs later at short leg off Bravo. Yuvraj's stay at the crease was extremely shaky as he struggled to cope with the pace of the wicket. In the middle of his nervous start Yuvraj managed to hit a couple of fours off Bravo.

Lara replaced Bravo with Jerome Taylor and the move paid of.

A toe crunching yorker from Taylor sent Yuvraj limping back to the pavilion out lbw for 19. India lost their fourth wicket for 58.

Kaif was also lucky to survive when he played Taylor on the up in the gully region where the fielder got both the hands to the ball but couldn't complete the catch.

Kaif was also uncomfortable playing short stuff and departed soon edging Taylor to Lara at slips for 13.

Dhoni walked in to loud cheers but lasted for only 4 balls.

He edged Collymore to Bravo at third slip for 3 giving Collymore his first wicket of the match. Collymore kept it very tight at his end returning a figure of 16-9-16-1 at tea.

Dravid survived at the other end, pulling two sweetly timed shots for boundaries after he lost six of his men for not much contribution.

Dravid was himself batting too slowly that allowed the West Indies bowlers to get on top.

Earlier, West Indies bowlers were on top after India chose to bat in the last test being played here at the Sabina Park.

At lunch India were 29 for two, losing the wickets of Virender Sehwag and Wasim Jaffer.

India made a disastrous start losing two quick wickets in the first four overs.

India could have been much worse off if all the catches that the batsmen offered were taken. Laxman was let off twice in the slips cordon as the West Indies pacers toiled hard on a helpful wicket.

Sehwag tried to play a rising delivery on his ribs from Pedro Collins to the on side but only managed to lob an easy catch to Ramnaresh Sarwan at forward short leg. Sehwag went for duck and India was 1 for 1.

VVS Laxman survived a scare next ball when his edge just fell short of Gayle at first slips.

Jerome Taylor bowled an express delivery that nipped back in and shattered the stumps of Jaffer to leave India tottering at 3 for 2.

The first few overs here at the Sabina Park have provided good bounce and assistance to pacers. In an eventful first few over, Sarwan at forward short leg was hit by a powerful on drive from Laxman and had to be taken off the field.

Sarwan was hit badly below knee and didn't came back to field in the first session.

Laxman was dropped once more in the 16th over by Lara off Collymore.

Laxman survived the chance on his personal score of 5.

Dravid and Laxman completely dropped anchors trying to steer India out of troubled waters. There was some moisture beneath the pitch surface that came up in the morning helping the West Indies pacers.

All the four bowlers were able to extract purchase from the surface and made scoring extremely difficult for the Indians.

Dravid and Laxman showed extra caution as 12 overs before lunch were bowled maiden. Such was the slowness of Indian scoring that only 8 runs were scored in the first hour.

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