Indian bowlers strike !

Great bowling by Ishant ( 3/29 ), P Kumar ( 3/38), Bajji ( 2/51) and Mishra (2/51) reduced the West Indies to 173, giving India a lead of 73 runs !

Gavaskar was right when he opined that Ishant has come back into form and will spearhead the Indian attack in the years to come. Temporarily he was off form, trying to bowl fast, with the result he lost his swing. Now his swing is going, he can swing the ball both ways and can bowl at 150 kph, as West Indies found to their discomfiture !

Look at his figures yesterday. 17-6-29-3 ! What a great spell of bowling and WI all out for 173 !

India are 91/3, with Dravid unconquered with 45 not out. The Indian lead at the moment in 164 and since this is a low scoring match, it seems to be Advantage India ! But one can never say, as an Indian collapse can bring the West Indies back into the game.

WI made inroads into the Indian batting, as they captured three wickets, but Dravid, known as Mr Wall, stood his ground and saved the innings. Ravi Rampaul trapped Vijay for a blob, sending shivers down in the Indian camp. Bishoo removed Mukund and Sammy removed the dangerous, off form Laxman for a duck !

Kohli on 14 not out and Dravid on 45 not out will resume the Indian innings today.

Earlier Ishant Sharma and Praveen Kumar ran through the West Indian top order, which crumbled like a ton of bricks. And spinners Mishra and Bajji polished off the Carribean tail !