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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CARETAKER TALKS Nazmul Huda prods BNP to go ahead

Dhaka, June 22 (bdnews24.com) ? The BNP must respond to the government's repeated calls to settle the caretaker government issue through discussion, says Nazmul Huda.

"The BNP must join the discussion, but on the condition that it won't take part in the next election if the discussion fails," Huda, who only recently got back his membership of the party, said in a press statement issued on Wednesday.

He suggested that BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and Awami League president and prime minister Sheikh Hasina should take part in a direct discussion.

After the cabinet cleared the proposals by the special committee on constitution amendment, the largest opposition party alleged that the government had closed all doors for talks on the issue.

It also threatened to stage tougher demonstration protesting the government move to amend the constitution.

Former communications minister Huda said an opportunity to make the election system free and fair was thrown up when the Supreme Court ordered to repeal the caretaker government system.

"The BNP should grab the chance," he added.

According to him, a BNP leader's remark that 'all the doors for talks have been closed' could close the doors on the future itself.

"BNP should not own up such a remark," Huda added.

The former standing committee member of the party also said, "I am sorry that I have no opportunity but to express my own idea alongside the BNP policymakers in this way."

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