Dravid: 32nd Test ton
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Rahul Dravid's superb century on day three at Sabina Park in Jamaica helped India close in on victory in the first Test against West Indies.
Dravid made 112 - his 32nd Test ton - to anchor the tourists' second innings of 252, leaving their opponents the sizeable task of 326 to win.
The hosts started brightly enough in their run-chase, openers Adrian Barath and Lendl Simmons putting on a partnership of 62 in just 11 overs.
However, Barath's departure to Praveen Kumar sparked a collapse, with three wickets going down for 18 runs. They eventually reached the close on 131-3 with Darren Bravo unbeaten on 30 and Shivnarine Chanderpaul not out on 24.
Excellence
Had it not been for the excellence of Dravid, West Indies would have needed far less in the fourth and final innings of a low-scoring contest.
The veteran right-hander, carelessly dropped early on in his innings in the final session of day three, accumulated runs with apparent ease while his team-mates fell in a heap at the other end.
Amit Mishra was the next highest scorer for India, the tail-ender blasting four boundaries to contribute 28. His efforts helped put on 56 for the ninth wicket at a crucial time in the contest, with West Indies at that stage on top.
Dravid had resumed on 45 not out but soon saw fellow overnight batsman Virat Kohli depart, Fidel Edwards getting the breakthrough when a short ball heading down leg took a thin edge through to wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh.
Suresh Raina helped add 48 for the fifth wicket before he fell to leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo, while the same bowler also accounted for India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who had made a duck on day one, for a run-a-ball 16.
Home skipper Darren Sammy then removed Harbhajan Singh and Kumar in the same over to leave the score at 183-8, giving West Indies a ray of hope.
Frustrated
However Mishra frustrated them for more than 17 overs and by the time Sammy (4-57) had him caught at third man cutting at a short delivery, India's lead was well beyond 300.
Dravid was the last man out, caught at mid-on looking to launch Bishoo, who finished with 4-65 despite struggling with a knee injury, for a second six.
Facing a stiff task to take the series opener, West Indies set out in pursuit of their objective like they needed to make them before the close.
Barath hit four boundaries and two sixes to race to 38 but his desire to be aggressive eventually led to his downfall, an ambitious drive at an outswinger from Kumar only providing a comfortable catch to Raina at second slip.
Kohli's effort at third slip to remove Ramnaresh Sarwan for a duck was much more spectacular in the next over from Ishant Sharma, who next took the fielders out of the equation by bowling Simmons for 27.
Source: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12040_7001284,00.html
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