Jamaica, June 21: The Indian bowlers put their side in a position of strength bowling the West Indies out for a score of 173 on Day 2 of the Sabina Park Test here in Jamaica. India, having finished the day on 91 for the loss of three wickets in their second innings, now take a comfortable 164-run lead over the hosts.

After Ishant Sharma removed Ramnaresh Sarwan (3) off just the seventh delivery of the day, it was Praveen Kumar who took centre-stage for India. Facing some stubborn resistance from Adrian Barath and Darren Bravo in the first hour of the day’s play, Kumar took three wickets in 14 deliveries to leave the hosts tottering at 102 for five. Barath, the first of Kumar’s victims, top-scored for the West Indies with a battling innings of 64.

Kumar’s joy was, however, short-lived as he was suspended from bowling soon after lunch, on getting his third warning for running on the danger area of the pitch. But India’s spinners and Ishant Sharma stepped up in Kumar’s absence. Harabhjan Singh broke a frustrating 45-run partnership between Carlton Baugh and Shivnarine Chanderpaul as he had Baugh (27) caught by Murali Vijay at silly point.

Darren Sammy (1) went next, bowled by Ishant Sharma after which Harbhajan dismissed Chanderpaul (23) for the first time in his career. Amit Mishra took the last two wickets to dismiss the West Indies for a paltry 173, the hosts losing their last five wickets for just 26 runs.

India’s second innings resumed immediately after tea. Murali Vijay and VVS Laxman both got out without scoring and had it not been for Abhinav Mukund’s dour 25 runs and Dravid’s tenacious innings of 45 not out, India might have done much worse than finishing the day at 91 for three. West Indies would blame themselves for not doing better as Darren Sammy fluffed a simple chance at second slip to give Dravid a life on 6.

Brief scores (At end of Day 2): India 1st innings 246 all out in 61.2 overs (Suresh Raina 82, Fidel Edwards 4/56)and 2nd innings 91/3 in 41.0 overs(Rahul Dravid 45, Darren Sammy 1/16); West Indies 1st innings 173 all outin 67.5 overs(Adrian Barath 64, Praveen Kumar 3/38, Ishant Sharma 3/29).