Delhi, Nov 8: Hosts India look firm favourites to win the Feroz Shah Kotla Test and take a 1-0 lead in their three-match series against West Indies. Chasing a fourth innings target of 276, India were 152 for two at the close of play on Day 3 with Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar determined to get India off to a winning start in the series.

But the hero of the day for India was R Ashwin. Having conceded a 95-run lead to the West Indies in their first innings on Day 2, the Indians had the debutant to thank for knocking over the West Indies quickly on Day 3 for a below par second innings score of 180. The offspinner finished with figures of six for 47, the second-best match haul for an Indian debutant.

After Ishant Sharma dismissed nightwatchman Fidel Edwards (1), Ashwin ran through the West Indies batting order to tilt the match’s balance in India’s favour. Ashwin’s victims on the day included the likes of Darren Bravo (12), Marlon Samuels (0), Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Darren Sammy and Ravi Rampaul (18). In fact, had it not been for another fluent innings from Chanderpaul (47 off 58 deliveries) and a belligerent 37-ball 42 from West Indies captain Sammy, the visitors could well have been bundled out for a score under 150.

Indian pacer Umesh Yadav picked up the wickets of Kirk Edwards (33) and Carlton Baugh (7) to earn his first two scalps in Test cricket.

Faced with the prospect of chasing 276 runs for a win, which, if managed, would be their third-highest successful chase ever in Tests, Indian openers Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag put on 51 for the first wicket. Marlon Samuels then gave the West Indies their first breakthrough when he had Gambhir trapped lbw in the 10th over of the Indian second innings.

Virender Sehwag, who enjoyed a life when pacer Ravi Rampaul failed to latch on to a low return catch on his right, helped himself to yet another stroke-filled half-century (5x4, 2x6). Sehwag, however, couldn’t convert that start into a three-figure score as he played a delivery from Darren Sammy onto his stumps with the Indian score at 95.

Rahul Dravid (30* off 91) and Sachin Tendulkar (33* off 87) then struck a tenacious partnership to deny the visitors any further wickets and put India firmly on the course of victory in the first Test. India were 152 for two at stumps, needing another 124 runs to win with eight wickets in hand.

Brief scores:

At end of Day 3: West Indies 1st innings 304 all out in 108.2 overs (Shivnarine Chaderpaul 118, Pragyan Ojha 6/72) and West Indies 2nd innings 180 all out in 57.3 overs (Shivnarine Chaderpaul 47, R Ashwin 6/47); India 1st innings 209 all out in 52.5 overs (Virender Sehwag 55, Rahul Dravid 54, Darren Sammy 3/35) and India 2nd innings 152/ 2 in 44.0 overs (Virender Sehwag 55, Marlon Samuels 1/28)

At end of Day 2: West Indies 1st innings 304 all out in 108.2 overs (Shivnarine Chaderpaul 118, Pragyan Ojha 6/72) and West Indies 2nd innings 21/2 in 14.0 overs (Kirk Edwards 15*, Pragyan Ojha 1/7); India 1st innings 209 all out in 52.5 overs (Virender Sehwag 55, Darren Sammy 3/35)

At end of Day 1: West Indies 1st innings 256/5 in 91.0 overs (Shivnarine Chaderpaul 111*, Kraigg Brathwaite 63, Pragyan Ojha 3/58, R Ashwin 2/79)