Jamaica, June 20: India were bowled out for 246 by the West Indies on the opening day of the Sabina Park Test being played here in Kingston, Jamaica. Pacer Fidel Edwards took four for 56 as the visitors struggled to get to a score of 250 plus.

Earlier, India captain MS Dhoni, who along with Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman returned to the side for the Test series, won the toss and opted to bat first on the Sabina Park wicket. Three Indians made their Test debut as Praveen Kumar, Abhinav Mukund and Virat Kohli were picked in the playing eleven for the visitors. West Indies, on the other hand, left Marlon Samuels and Kemar Roach out of their playing eleven.

Abhinav Mukund and Murali Vijay, who open the batting for Tamil Nadu, were not able to translate that success on the international stage. Both batsmen fell to Ravi Rampaul while scoring 11 and eight runs respectively to leave India wobbling at 30 for two. The Indian innings then went into a further state of decline as they collapsed from 64 for two to 85 for six half an hour either side of lunch. Rahul Dravid, playing his 151st Test, with an innings of 40 made the only notable contribution in India’s top order.

A 146-run partnership between Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh then saved India the ignominy of getting bowled out cheaply. Raina made a determined 82 off 115 deliveries while Harbhajan was his usual feisty self, scoring 70 off just 74 deliveries.

Then with Harbhajan falling to Edwards with the score at 231, India lost its remaining three wickets for the addition of just another 15 runs.

West Indies, in reply, were 34 for one at the close of play on Day 1. Lendl Simmons (3) was caught at short leg by Murali Vijay to give Ishant Sharma his first wicket in Test cricket in the West Indies. Opener Adrian Barath remained not out on 26.

Brief scores (At end of Day 1): India 1st innings 246 all out in 61.2 overs(Suresh Raina 82, Harbhajan Singh 70, Fidel Edwards 4/56, Ravi Rampaul 3/59, Devendra Bishoo 3/75); West Indies 1st innings 34/1in 20 overs(Adrian Barath 26*, Ishant Sharma 1/8).