Windies pace too hot for India

The fragile Indian batting came off at the seams with a spineless display on a bouncy Kensington Park at Bridgetown, Barbados, on Thursday. The third of the five-Test series against the West Indies saw the hosts puncture the Indian innings, after inserting them in, for a paltry 102.

In reply, the West Indies ended the day at 33-1, with Ramnaresh Sarwan (0) and Chris Gayle (14) at the crease.

Zaheer Khan claimed the wicket of Stuart Williams in the final session before rain interrupted play for the fourth time.

In his very first over, the left-arm bowler angled the ball across Williams, who edged it to Wasim Jaffer at third slip. Jaffer held onto a sharp, low catch at his bootlaces to have the West Indies on 30-1.

The rain interruptions allowed only 46.1 overs during the day. India batted 33.4 overs while the hosts faced 12.3.

Morning session

The bias of the Kensington Oval at Bridgetown, Barbados, is pretty evident, with a single glance at the record book. It says: 19 victories and three defeats in 37 Tests for the home team.

The venue of the third of the five-Test series between India and the West Indies has been a cemetery for the Indians, having lost six of the seven Tests they have played here. The most intimidating memory of the ground is the humiliation India suffered on the 1997 tour, when chasing 120. They crumbled for 81 runs.

With a convincing victory under their belt at Port-of-Spain, India arrived in Barbados, bubbling with renewed fervor to sail away with a series triumph. And though their luggage failed to accompany them, they surely got their priorities right by picking Wasim Jaffer, the specialist opener, to partner S S Das, while the hosts picked left-arm seamer Pedro Collins for Marlon Black.

Kumble again lost out to Harbhajan Singh as the lone spinner in the game on either side, with Hooper choosing an all-pace four-play attack yet again.

Former West Indian fast bowler Richard Edwards, who is in-charge of the Kensington wicket, said that the covering of grass at the fast bowler's length could prove decisive in the game. The pitch was rolled with the plastic covering on so that the moisture could be retained and cracks prevented.

Hooper yet again called right at the toss and invited India to take first strike, hoping to pick some early wickets and seize the initiative. Ganguly seemed too happy to bat, saying had he won the toss he would have batted.

Hooper, though, won round one of the first day when Mervyn Dillon disrupted the wickets of S S Das off the first ball of the Test, nipping the ball back into the right-hand batsman, who is not in the best of form, and finding the gap between his bat and pad.

Das walked back to the pavilion for a first-ball duck, underlining India's eternal dearth of opening Test batsmen.

Rahul Dravid then walked out into the middle with an infectious confidence following his successful run so far on the tour.

Wasim Jaffer, the Mumbai opener, who followed the bread crumbs back to international cricket after a gap of two years, seemed comfortable at the wicket finding the fence with ease. His feet moved well, his balance impressed and his back-foot play seemed tidy for an opening batsman. Two strokes off the back-foot past point to the fence augured well for his reputation.

But history had to be salvaged on a ground that is known to lose early wickets on day one. Dillon, mixing up his lengths, drew Jaffer forward and found him edge to Ridley Jacobs behind the wickets. The keeper, who had lost his place to Junior Murray for the first two Tests, flew in front of first slip and took a great catch to justify his inclusion into the squad.

India were 26-2 and Tendulkar walked out for yet another damage-control exercise. Minutes later, the master batsman walked back to the pavilion with yet another maiden personal milestone - back-to-back ducks in Tests.

Bowling over the wicket, left-arm seamer Pedro Collins angled one across the little master, who, in a rare nervous moment, poked at the delivery with the bat miles away from his body, for Jacobs to take a simple catch at the wicket. It was only the first time in 94 Tests that Tendulkar was out with ducks in two successive innings.

Three wickets were gone inside the first hour of play, and though the wicket has a history of easing out as the day progresses, India sat tentatively with skipper Ganguly and Dravid at the wicket, and only VVS Laxman - their last recognized batsman - to come in.

Coach John Wright had mentioned earlier that his boys had a habit of relaxing after a big win; and he had to guard against that all the time.

Heavy downpour forced the teams to take an early lunch with India 35 for 3 wickets.

Post Lunch session

When rain stopped and play resumed after lunch, India's misery continued. Rahul Dravid, the man who was capable of stemming the rot was the next to go, for 17, following a senseless run-out. Shivnarine Chanderpaul's measured throw saw Cuffy, at the bowler's end, whip the bails off before the batsman could make his ground.

VVS Laxman, India's hero at Port of Spain, followed him, bowled by Cuffy for 1. India had lost their first five wickets for only 51 runs.

Ajay Ratra, out for a duck in both innings in the second Test, was the sixth wicket to fall after the addition of another ten runs. He flashed at a good length delivery from Dillon and edged to Jacobs, who took an excellent catch, diving to his right. Ratra made just one in India's score of 61 for 6.

Skipper Ganguly, meanwhile, kept a cool head and played the ball on its merits, hitting a four and a six off Dillon off successive balls.

Harbhajan Singh looked like offering some resistance as he found the fince twice. But his luck ran out as he attempted to pull a short ball from Sanford. Dillon, at long leg, took a comfortable catch. India 78 for 7.

Sanford picked his second wicket in his next over. He dug one short to Zaheer Khan, who went back to play and offered a simple catch to Sarwan at forward short leg. He made just four and India were 86 for 8.

At tea, India were reeling at 97 for eight.

Post Tea session

Now the question was whether India would reach the 100 mark. Srinath came and went eight balls later without scoring, Dillon having him LBW with a good yorker for his fourth wicket of the innings. 101 for 9.

Ganguly was the last to go after making 48. He got a thick edge to a delivery from Sanford. The ball flew high towards third man and looked like clearing the fence, but Dillon carefully followed it and held the ball even as he fell down and his hat touched the ropes. However, the third umpire ruled the catch clean and Ganguly out. India were all out for 102 in just 33.4 overs. Nehra was unbeaten without scoring.

Merv Dillon was the pick of the Windies bowlers, finishing with four wickets for 41 runs.

Scoreboard