Dravid steadies Indian ship to give them upper hand

Adrian Barath's half-century was the only bright spot for West Indies on a day dominated by the visitors.KINGSTON, Jamaica, June 22 (AFP): Rahul Dravid survived an early chance, and batted doggedly, giving India the upper hand in the first Test against West Indies on Tuesday.

The former Indian captain was on 45 not out, as India reached 91 for three in their second innings - an overall lead of 164 - at the close on the second day of the first Test.

Fortune smiled on Dravid on six, when West Indies captain Darren Sammy dropped him at second slip off Ravi Rampaul.

Dravid kept his nerve, and defied West Indies with resolute batting, offering little or no chances for the remainder of the day.

He added 56 for the second wicket with Abhinav Mukund, fortifying India's position, after Ishant Sharma collected three for 29 from 17 overs, and fellow fast bowler Praveen Kumar three for 38 from 18 overs in his test debut, as West Indies were dismissed for 173 about 25 minutes before tea.

The visitors were short-handed in the later stages of the West Indies innings, when Kumar was barred from bowling, after running onto the protected area of the pitch.

But his team-mates adjusted well to the challenge, and outside of opener Adrian Barath, whose 64 was the top score, no other West Indies batsman made a substantial contribution.

Murali Vijay then fell early, when India batted a second time, trapped lbw playing back and across for one to a delivery from Rampaul that kept low in the second over.

Mukund was caught behind for 25, top edging a cut off Devendra Bishoo, and next over, Sammy held a return catch to dismiss V.V.S. Laxman for a duck, leaving India 57 for three.

India 246 and 91 for 3 (Dravid 45*) lead West Indies 173 (Barath 64, Praveen 3-38, Ishant 3-29) by 164 runs.

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