Dominica, July 9: Kirk Edwards became just the 13th West Indies batsman to score a century on debut for the hosts but it wasn’t enough as India got into a good position to win the third and final Test being played at Dominica between the two sides. This after West Indies gained an 81-run lead on the Indians with just four wickets left in their second innings.

Resuming from an overnight score of 308 for six, India’s lead of 104 at the start of the day was limited to just 143 with Fidel Edwards taking three of the last four wickets to complete a five-wicket haul. Harbhajan (12) was the first to go as he top edged an attempted pull shot off Edwards to Carlton Baugh. MS Dhoni, too, perished to Edwards when he pulled a short delivery from the pacer straight to Devendra Bishoo at deep square leg. Dhoni top-scored for India with an innings of 74, also his highest ever score against the West Indies.

Praven Kumar played an attacking innings (23 off 27) before falling to Devendra Bishoo’s legspin. Ishant Sharma (2) became Edwards’ final victim in the Indian innings with another short delivery that Ishant could only direct to Adrian Barath at short leg. India finished at 347 with Edwards taking his second five-wicket haul of the series.

Right through the Test series the West Indies openers have struggled and the second innings here was no different. Adrian Barath (6) and Kieran Powell (4) edged deliveries from Praveen Kumar and Ishant Sharma respectively to give India the perfect start (10 for two). Darren Bravo held out for a stubborn 14 off 40 deliveries before skying a fullish delivery from Harbhajan to Praveen Kumar at wide mid-off.

But this was Edwards’ day. Left out of the West Indies squad for the final two ODIs and the first two Tests, the batsman justified the selectors’ decision to give him a chance here by scoring a fighting century. He survived the turn and bounce that Harbhajan was getting from the wicket, pulling Munaf Patel and Ishant with great confidence during the course of his innings. His 161-run partnership with the dour Shivnarine Chanderpaul in 56.1 overs (run rate of 2.86) saw him reach his maiden century in Test cricket.

Harbhajan finally got rid of Edwards on 110, getting the batsman to edge one from round the wicket to Dhoni. That wicket triggered India’s comeback as Marlon Samuels (0) was trapped lbw three deliveries later by Harbhajan while Carlton Baugh (10) fell to Praveen Kumar in the last over of the day.

From 201 for three the West Indies slid to 224 for six at stumps with Chanderpaul (73 not out off 201 deliveries) once again faced with the prospect of defying the opposition with the tail-enders.

Brief scores: West Indies 1st innings 204 all outin 76.3 overs(Carlton Baugh 60, Ishant Sharma 5/77) and West Indies 2nd innings 224/6 in 83 overs (Kirk Edwards 110, Shivnarine Chanderpaul 73*, Harbhajan Singh 3/61); India 1st innings 347 all out in 108.2 overs (MS Dhoni 74, Fidel Edwards 5/103).