Thaindian News

Kingston (Jamaica), June 21 (IANS) Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh rescued India with their 146-run stand in the first innings against the West Indies on the opening day of the first Test here Monday.

The day, however, belonged to the hosts as they dominated by restricting the World No.1 Test side to 246 in the first innings. West Indies ended the day at 34 for one at the Sabina Park.

India, who are without batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, failed to get past 250 despite winning the toss and opting to bat. The top-order batting collapsed to 85 for six before Raina and Harbhajan did the repair act with their 146-run seventh wicket stand.

Raina top scored with 82 while Harbhajan made a quickfire 70 before West Indies medium pacer Fidel Edwards polished off the tail and finished with four for 56. Fast bowler Ravi Rampaul and the promising leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo claimed three wickets each.

India were in trouble right from the start and at lunch were struggling at 69 for four, after two of their three debutants, Abhinav Mukund (11) and Virat Kohli (8) departed quickly.

Rahul Dravid waged a lone war with his fighting 40 while other senior batsmen V.V.S. Laxman (12) and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni made little contribution.

While Harbhajan played a breezy innings, Raina’s knock was more controlled but he launched himself later sensing that he would run out of partners.

Harbhajan hit 10 fours and a six in his 74-ball knock before he was snared with a well-worked short-ball tactic by Edwards and Bishoo took a sensational diving catch running at speed to his left, shortly before tea.

Raina also launched an all-out attack and holed out to Bishoo at deep square leg off Rampaul. The left-handed batsman’s 115-ball knock which featured 15 attractive boundaries.

West Indies also suffered an early set-back when Lendl Simmons (3) fell to Ishant Sharma caught by Murali Vijay at short-leg. Adrian Barath (26 batting) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (2 batting) then guided the team home to stumps safely.