Bridgetown (Barbados):Speedster Ishant Sharma grabbed his career-best six for 55 as India took a slender 11-run first innings lead over West Indies by dismissing the home side for 190 at the post-lunch session on the third day of the second cricket Test here today.
Ishant picked up the last two wickets off successive balls to wrap up the West Indies innings as he added three more wickets today to the three he scalped yesterday to grab his second career five-wicket haul in an innings.
India had scored 201 all out in their first innings.
Batting for the second time, India scored 20 for no loss in five overs with openers Murali Vijay and Abhinav Mukund batting on two and eight respectively to take an overall 31-run lead when early tea was taken due to rain.
Ishant accounted for Ravi Rampaul (0) and Fidel Edwards (0) from successive balls towards the close of post-lunch session to keep India ahead in the Test.
The Delhi pacer took the final three wickets off five balls for one runs to bring a quick end to West Indian resistance.
Playing in his 33rd match, the 22-year-old Delhi pacer completed his 100 wickets in Tests during his inspirational spell when he dismissed West Indies captain Darren Sammy (15) for his fourth wicket of the innings in the post-lunch session.
West Indies were marvelously served by returning batsman Marlon Samuels who remained unbeaten on 78 from 178 balls with eight fours.
The Indians though began their reply hesitantly as Fidel Edwards worked up some pace but the two openers were unseparated when the rain came again, 10 minutes before the tea break.
In all there were two rain-induced interruptions in the afternoon session.
West Indies were 189 for eight when the rains came and immediately on resumption, they lost their final two wickets for a mere one run.
India though had to labour for wickets as the West Indies, led a resolute Samuels, denied them much success in the morning session.
India struck at the fag end of the opening session to reduce the West Indies to 138 for six.
Overnight batsmen Chanderpaul and Samuels batted resolutely for most part of third day morning.
SCOREBOARD
India first Innings: 201 all out
West Indies First Innings: (overnight 98/5)
Barath c Kohli b Sharma 3
Simmons c Dhoni b Kumar 2
Sarwan lbw b Sharma 18
Bravo c Dhoni b Mithun 9
Bishoo c Kohli b Sharma 13
Chanderpaul b Mithun 37
Samuels not out 78
Baugh c Dravid b Harbhajan 2
Sammy lbw b Sharma 15
Rampaul c Vijay b Sharma 0
Edwards c Dhoni b Sharma 0
Total: (All out in 73.5 overs) 190
Bowling: Kumar 23-3-67-1, Sharma 21.5-7-55-6, Mithun 15-6-34-2, Harbhajan 14-3-31-1.
India 2nd Innings:
Mukund batting 8
Vijay batting 2
Total: (For no loss in 5 overs) 20
Bowling: Edwards 3-1-13-0, Rampaul 2-1-3-0