Wasim Jaffer hit a classy century to lead India's batting revival and helpthe visitors get back into contention in the first Test against the West Indieson Sunday.
Having been outplayed in the first two days, the Indians fought their wayback into the match through a disciplined performance from the top order as theyreached 215 for two in the second innings on the third day at the AntiguaRecreation Ground.
The total meant India had an overall lead of only 85 runs but with Jafferlooking in excellent touch and skipper Rahul Dravid still at the crease, and thepitch playing its best, the tourists would be hoping to set a challenging targetfor the hosts.
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Dravid was batting on a watchful 21 at close.
Jaffer's unbeaten 113, his second century in Tests, was instrumental in Indiaerasing the 130-run deficit they had incurred after allowing Brian Lara's men topost 371 in the first innings.
In the course of his 222-ball innings, the Mumbai opener stitched threedecisive partnerships.
First he combined with Virender Sehwag (41) to put up a solid 72-runpartnership for the first wicket before pairing with VVS Laxman (31) to add 75runs for the second wicket.
Jaffer's unbroken third-wicket association with Dravid was already worth 68runs.
The West Indies were hard done by a hamstring injury to their bowlingspearhead Fidel Edwards.
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Sehwag and Laxman, however, were both guilty of gifting their wickets afterhaving got their eye in.
Sehwag, whose 41 came from 58 balls with six fours and a six, edged an awaygoing delivery from Corey Collymore to Chris Gayle at first slip.
Laxman, after facing 58 balls and hitting five boundaries, chose to heave ata wrong 'un from chinaman bowler Dave Mohammed and ended up top edging for asimple catch to mid-on.
Earlier, the West Indies' tail wagged long enough to enable the hosts gain asubstantial lead over India.
Resuming at 318 for six, they batted for 16 more overs and added 53 runsbefore folding up at 371, half an hour before lunch.
The morning's play was notable for Punjab youngster Vikram Rajvir Singh'sfiery spell which had two batsmen dismissed off deliveries which jumped from aspot.
Singh bowled quick and dug in a few nasty short-pitched deliveries which hitbatsmen on the gloves and body.
VRV's first dismissal was that of obdurate overnight batsman Ian Bradshaw whobatted for 111 minutes and faced 85 balls, scoring 33 runs with six fours.
Singh's other victim was Edwards (4) who squared up to a short-pitcheddelivery and ballooned a catch in the air, gratefully accepted by wicketkeeperMahendra Singh Dhoni.
Kumble closed the lid on the innings when he won a leg before shout againstCollymore for nought.
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But the first breakthrough for the Indians was provided by Munaf Patel whoremoved overnight batsman Denesh Ramdin for 26 runs, coaxing an edge to Dhoni.
Ramdin batted for 90 minutes and faced 68 balls, hitting three fours, andadded 49 runs for the eighth wicket with Bradshaw.
Patel and Kumble picked up three wickets each while two wickets each wereclaimed by VRV and Sehwag.
Jaffer though was grit personified as he preferred to hit in the 'V', yetproduced a number of classic flicks and drives.
He completed his century in the final session with a classic cover drive.
Jaffer celebrated his return to Test cricket after four years with an 81 and100 against England in the Nagpur Test and now has produced another back-to-walleffort for his team.
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Even his hundred in the Nagpur Test was in the second innings and at a timewhen the team was fighting for survival.
This knock too has given Indians a very strong chance to escape with a draw.
PTI
