West Indies fast bowler Ravi Rampaul took three wickets in the opening session of the second Test with India here on Tuesday to leave the world ranked number one test team on 44-4 at lunch. Rampaul had astonishing figures of three for four from eight overs at the break as the hosts bid to level the three match series on a ground where the visitors have lost the last five test matches they have played.
Such was the challenging nature of the conditions that India struck just three boundaries - all to V.V.S. Laxman - and all back-foot shots. Sent in to bat, India suffered an early setback, when left-handed opener Abhinav Mukund was caught at gully for one off Rampaul in the second over of the day.
The Indians ran into further trouble, when Rahul Dravid, a century-maker in the first Test, was caught behind for five, playing defensively forward to a delivery from West Indies captain Darren Sammy. Murali Vijay was fortunate on four, when he sliced a drive at a delivery from Sammy, and Devendra Bishoo failed to hold onto a low, diving chance at backward point.
India reached 13 for two from 14 overs after the first hour, failing to strike a boundary, but Laxman brought India their first four, when he pulled Sammy through wide mid-on. But the Indians were jolted, when Rampaul had opener Murali Vijay caught behind down the leg side for a painstaking 11, and two deliveries later, Virat Kohli caught at second slip for a duck, fending a sharply rising delivery.
Both sides made one change to their line-ups; for West Indies, Marlon Samuels replaced Brendan Nash, and for the Indians, medium-fast bowler Munaf Patel came in for leg-spinner Amit Mishra. The third Test will be played from July 6 at Windsor Park in Dominica. India are looking to wrap up their second straight Test series victory over West Indies in the Caribbean.
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