India eye win despite Edwards, Chanderpaul fight

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ROSEAU, Dominica: Test debutant Kirk Edwards and veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul led a West Indies fightback before India claimed three late wickets to edge closer to victory in the third Test on Saturday.

Edwards scored 110, and Chanderpaul, making a West Indies record 133rd appearance, gathered a resolute, unbeaten 73 that helped West Indies to 224 for six in their second innings at stumps on the fourth day, a lead of just 81.

For close to four hours, the Indians met defiance from Edwards and Chanderpaul in a 161-run, fourth-wicket stand, leading a recovery for the hosts from a perilous 40 for three.

But Harbhajan Singh brought India back into the game when he claimed Edwards and Marlon Samuels to end the day with 3-61 from 25 overs.

Praveen Kumar removed Carlton Baugh in the final over to finish with 2-29 from 15 overs.

India seemed to be on a roll when Harbhajan had Darren Bravo caught at deep mid-off for 14, but Chanderpaul joined Edwards, and they brought stability back to the West Indies.

Edwards reached his milestone in an unorthodox fashion.

He drove Munaf Patel to mid-off and, with adrenalin pumping, took off down the pitch for the single that would carry him over the threshold.

Chanderpaul sent him back and he was fortunate that the throw from the fielder to wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni struck his left leg as he tried to regain his ground.

He was able to complete the run safely and to a cacophony of noise from a semi-packed Windsor Park, hosting its maiden Test.

A few minutes earlier, Chanderpaul had reached 50 for the first time in the series from 153 balls, scooping a delivery to fine leg off Abhinav Mukund, peddling his uncomplicated leg-spin.

Edwards continued to soldier on but was fortunate on 104 when he swept at a delivery from Harbhajan, the ball flew from the back of the bat, but Rahul Dravid at slip failed to grab a difficult chance.

Harbhajan finally made the breakthrough when Edwards was caught behind, trying to run his 195th delivery to third man.

Harbhajan, bowling around the wicket, then removed Marlon Samuels lbw for a duck, leaving West Indies 201 for five.

India kept the pressure up until the close and Baugh was caught at extra cover for 10, driving a delivery from Kumar uppishly to the fielder.

Before tea India had run into a roadblock when Edwards and Chanderpaul made them toil, leading West Indies to 116 for three.

The Indians had a chance in the final over before the break to separate the pair when Chanderpaul edged Harbhajan to slip, but Dravid put down a sharp chance.

India's lower-order batting had again been undermined by Fidel Edwards as the visitors were dismissed for 347 about an hour and 10 minutes before the interval, replying to West Indies' first innings total of 204.

India continued from their overnight total of 308 for six, but Edwards claimed three of the last four wickets in a session interrupted by rain, finishing with 5-103 from 28.2 overs.

It was the second straight innings the West Indies fast bowler claimed five and the 10th time in his 46-match career.

Devendra Bishoo took the other scalp to end with 2-125 from 38 overs, and West Indies captain Darren Sammy supported with 2-51 from 28 overs.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was dismissed for his side's top score of 74, adding just nine to his overnight total.

India hold a 1-0 lead in the three Test series, following a 63-run victory inside four days in Jamaica, and a draw in the second Test at Barbados.