Mumbai, Nov 22: West Indies put on one of their better batting displays in recent times to end Day 1 of the third and final Test against India at an imposing 267 for the loss of two wickets. All four West Indies batsmen who came out to bat today played their part helping themselves to individual half-centuries.

Earlier, West Indies captain Darren Sammy won the toss and opted to bat first on the Wankhede wicket. The visitors made two changes to their squad from the side that played the Kolkata Test with Kieran Powell coming in for the injured Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ravi Rampaul replacing Kemar Roach in the bowling department. India, on the other hand, brought in Varun Aaron for Umesh Yadav while Virat Kohli was given the nod ahead of Rohit Sharma for Yuvraj Singh’s position.

Like in the second innings of the Kolkata Test, the West Indies batsmen applied themselves right through the course of the day’s play. Adrian Barath and Kraigg Brathwaite saw off the morning session with some dogged defence, hitting the odd loose ball that came their way to the boundary. The visitors went in to lunch at a solid 80 for no loss after 30 overs.

The openers continued their cautious approach following the lunch break as their partnership crossed the 100-run mark. Brathwaite was the first to reach his half-century (off 136 deliveries) while Barath, too, brought up his second half-century of the series shortly afterwards (off 128 balls).

R Ashwin finally gave India a breakthrough with a couple of wickets. With VVS Laxman having put down Brathwaite in the 51st over off Ashwin’s bowling, the Indian offspinner struck in the 53rd over, forcing an inside-edge from Barath (62) on to the batsman’s thigh pad; captain Dhoni took a simple catch behind the wicket. Six overs later, Ashwin had Brathwaite (68) as well, as the ball spun past the opener’s bat, kissed the top of his glove and popped off the pad to Virat Kohli at short leg. At 150 for two, both the West Indies openers had made their way back to the pavilion in the space of 38 deliveries.

There were no further casualties for the visitors as Kirk Edwards and Darren Bravo carried on the good work done by the team’s openers. Both batsmen batted at a far better clip than Barath and Brathwaite and reached their half-centuries either side of the drinks break in the post-tea session.

India might have gone to stumps having taken the wicket of Bravo, but Rahul Dravid failed to latch on to a catch at slip off Pragyan Ojha’s bowling in the 79th over when Bravo was still on 33. The West Indies, consequently, managed to end Day 1 at a healthy 267 for the loss of two wickets with both Edwards (65*) and Bravo (57*) having stitched together an unbeaten 117-run stand.

Brief scores: West Indies 1st innings 267/2 in 91.0 overs (Kraigg Brathwaite 68, Kirk Edwards 65*, R Ashwin 2/86)