Dominica, July 8: India surged to a 104-run lead on Day 3 of the Dominica Test against the West Indies taking full advantage of an uninterrupted day’s play. After rain had curtailed the progress of the game on the first two days of the Test match, the Indian batsmen came good to take their side to an impressive 308 for six even as the hosts were depleted by injured or ill seamers.

Indiabegan the day at the score of eight for no loss but lost two quick wickets as Murali Vijay (5) and Rahul Dravid (5) fell to Fidel Edwards and Darren Sammy respectively. The hosts would have been happy with the early breakthroughs, given that pacer Ravi Rampaul wasn’t available to bowl owing to an illness.

But the visitors managed to stage a comeback. Abhinav Mukund reached his maiden half-century in Test cricket with a gritty knock of 62 off 149 deliveries. The opener struck a 98-run partnership with VVS Laxman for the third wicket before offering an easy catch to Adrian Barath, standing at short leg, off Devendra Bishoo’s bowling.

Virat Kohli and Laxman then put on another 50-run partnership to strengthen India’s cause but both batsmen fell in quick succession to leave the game in the balance at 172 for five. Kohli (30) was caught by wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh brilliantly down the leg side while Laxman (56) was stumped off a wide ball from Shivnarine Chanderpaul who had last bowled in a Test in 2007.

A 103-run partnership between Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni then gave India the undisputed advantage in the game. Suresh Raina hit his third half-century of the tour while Dhoni, under some criticism for his form, remained unbeaten on 65 at the end of day’s play. Harbhajan Singh (12*), who came in at the fall of Raina’s wicket (trapped lbw by Edwards), was batting with Dhoni at stumps.

Brief scores: West Indies 1st innings 204 all outin 76.3 overs(Carlton Baugh 60, Darren Bravo 50, Ishant Sharma 5/77); India 1st innings 308/6 in 98.0 overs (MS Dhoni 65*, Abhinav Mukund 62, VVS Laxman 56, Darren Sammy 2/48).