Edwards' debut ton lead Windies' battle

Dominica, July 10 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) ? Kirk Edwards hit a century on his test debut on Saturday to give West Indies faint hope of saving the third and final test with India at Dominica.

Edwards, a 26-year-old from Barbados, blasted 110, the highest score by a West Indian on debut for nearly 40 years, as the home side reached 224 for six when stumps were drawn on the fourth day.

Thet left them with a slender overall lead of 81 runs with four second-innings wickets remaining after India captured three scalps near the close to take control.

India lead the three test series 1-0 and while West Indies theoretically still have a chance of levelling the series, the tourists will surely fancy their own chances of ending on a high with a second test victory.

The only glimmer of hope for West Indies is that Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who in this test broke the record for most test appearances for the Caribbean team, is still at the crease having made an ultra-patient 73 from 201 balls.

Skipper Darren Sammy will resume with Chanderpaul Sunday and with only the tail to come he will need to produce a real captain's innings if they are to set India a challenging target.

It could have been a different situation had Indian not picked up those three wickets late in the final session.

Edwards finally went caught behind off Harbhajan Singh after becoming the 13th West Indian to score a century on his debut. His 110 was the highest score on debut by a West Indian since Lawrence Rowe made a double hundred against New Zealand in 1972.

"It is a special feeling to get a test century on debut for the West Indies but I would have liked to carry on and make a bigger score for the team," Edwards said.

"Test cricket is about fighting and I see myself as a fighter. We have a lot of fighting characters in the team and we will continue the fight in this match."

Marlon Samuels lasted just three balls, trapped leg before wicket by Harbhajan and then wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh was a victim of the new ball, pushing a simple catch to Abhinav Mukund off Praveen Kumar.

It was a soft end to what had been a solid and gritty recovery from West Indies after India had made early inroads before lunch.

Kieran Powell edged Ishant Sharma to Suresh Raina at third slip and then fellow opener Adrian Barath also played at a ball he could have left alone, diverting a Kumar delivery to Virat Kohli at fourth slip.

After the interval, Harbhajan snapped up Darren Bravo for 14, caught by Kumar at mid-off as he tried to drive.

It was however a good day for Barbadians named Edwards - pace bowler Fidel ended with a five-wicket haul after rattling through the Indian tail early in the morning session to end the tourists' first innings at 347 all out.

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India ahead despite Windies fight

Kingston, June 23 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) ? Rahul Dravid made a painstakingly slow but masterful century to put India in a strong position to win the first test against West Indies at Sabina Park Wednesday.

Dravid, showing all the patience and sublime skill built up over a 15-year test career, batted for almost six and a half hours to compile 112 in a low-scoring match where both teams have struggled to score freely.

His performance enabled the tourists to post a second-innings total of 252 and set West Indies a daunting target of 326 to win the series opener.

West Indies racked up 131 to reduce their target to 195 off by the time stumps were drawn on the third day but lost three wickets in the process, leaving India in control of a match seemingly destined to finish early.

Dravid's hundred was his 32nd in tests and his fourth against West Indies and the 38-year-old provided his younger team mates with a lesson in resilience as he cautiously navigated his way to triple figures on a pitch offering assistance to the spinners.

None of the other batsman got to 30 while Darren Sammy and Devendra Bishoo were the pick of the West Indian bowlers, capturing four wickets each.

India started the third day on 91 for three but lost Virat Kohli (15), Suresh Raina (27) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (16) in the morning session as Dravid took his overnight score from 45 to 69.

Content to bat cautiously and occupy the crease, Dravid accelerated in the middle session, reaching his ton off 252 balls before becoming the last wicket to fall.

West Indies made a flying start to their run chase when Adrian Barath and Lendl Simmons brought up their 50 partnership in just 55 balls before India made three quick strikes, removing Barath (38), Simmons (27) and Ramnaresh Sarwan, for no score, to leave the home side reeling at 80-3.

Darren Bravo (30 not out) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (24 not out) added 51 in an unbroken stand fopr the fourth wicket to guide the home team to the close without further casualties and give them some hope of reaching their target Thursday.

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