Kuruvilla's five wicket haul takes India to winning position

India's inexperienced fast bowlers blasted the West Indies for 140 in their second innings to set up a excellent winning position for their team at the close of the third day of the third Cable and Wireless Test.

On a day in which 17 wickets fell for 212 runs, India, set a modest 120 to win, closed at two without loss on Sunday.

The visitors were led by a five-wicket haul from Abey Kuruvilla, the 6' 5" tall Bombay pacer playing only his third Test. His new ball partner Venkatesh Prasad took three wickets, while fellow six-footer Dodda Ganesh claimed two as West Indies fell for their lowest-ever total in 68 Tests against the Indians.

The West Indies fought back into the match in the first half of the day, limiting India's lead on the first innings to just 21. Resuming on 249 for three, the tourists lost their last seven wickets for 66 to be all out at 319 in mid-afternoon.

But that slide paled in comparison to the sensational demise of the home team.

On a grassy pitch that has been fast, bouncy and difficult for batting throughout the match, Prasad set the tone in the third over of the innings. He got an off-cutter to jump at Stuart Williams, who deflected it off his inside edge into his stumps. Williams, a centurion in the previous Test, was out for a duck.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who had held together the West Indies first innings of 298 with an unbeaten 137, could not repeat his feat. He made just three before, pulling across the line, he provided Kuruvilla with his first wicket, umpire Steve Randell confirming the lbw decision.

Soon after tea, opener Sherwin Campbell got a thin edge to a sharp lifter in Ganesh's first over, wicket-keeper Nayan Mongia completing the dismissal.

Ganesh also got rid of the dangerous, but enigmatic Carl Hooper soon afterwards. Hooper, shaping to pull, missed the ill-advised stroke and was palpably leg before for four.

But it was the prize wicket of Brian Lara that made the Indians delirious.

The Trinidadian left-hander, in his first Test as West Indies captain, played some dazzling strokes in his 45 when Prasad enticed him to drive at one wide of off-stump, Mohammad Azharuddin clinging on to a fine catch to his left at second slip. Lara hit six boundaries, batted 104 minutes and faced 67 balls.

Wicket-keeper Courtney Browne fell one run later, adjudged caught behind off Kuruvilla though television replays seemed to indicate that he did not get a touch.

Prasad quickly removed Roland Holder for 13 to another catch behind the stumps and India were into the West Indies tail.

When Kuruvilla had Ian Bishop leg before and Franklyn Rose caught at cover, the West Indies were 107 for nine and only 86 runs ahead.

But the last wicket pair of Curtly Ambrose and Mervyn Dillon launched a courageous counter-attack to realise the best stand of the innings.

Ambrose made an unbeaten 18 and rookie Dillon a stroke-filled 21, the pair adding 33 runs in just 23 minutes before Dillon was bowled by Kuruvilla playing no stroke.

Kuruvilla finished with a career-best haul of five for 68 off 21 overs. Prasad took three for 39 to add to his five-wicket haul in the first innings. Ganesh, in his first Test of the series, captured two for 28.

The West Indies's fightback was also spearheaded by their fast bowlers.

Ian Bishop led the charge before lunch, taking two of the three wickets to fall. The 29-year-old Trinidadian bowled unchanged through the first session, dismissing Rahul Dravid and Mongia.

Dravid added seven to his overnight 71 before he was bowled off the bottom of the bat. The Karnataka right-hander, who had given India an advantage on day two by adding 170 for the third wicket with his captain Sachin Tendulkar, batted 372 minutes, faced 243 balls and hit eight boundaries.

Rose wrapped up the Indian innings soon after lunch, first removing Azharuddin and finally, slicing through the tail.

Rose was the most successful West Indies bowler, taking four for 77 off 22 overs. Bishop had three for 70 off 28 over and Ambrose two for 74 off 29 overs.

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