Kaif ton sets huge Indian mark

Mohammad Kaif’s first Test century built a seemingly unassailable Indian lead on the second day of the Second Test in St Lucia.

A 179-run stand between Kaif (148*) and captain Rahul Dravid (146) was terminated as the skipper lofted an innocuous, wide long hop from Ramnaresh Sarwan to Brian Lara at point.

Neither MS Dhoni, Irfan Pathan or Anil Kumble were able to maximise their licence for strokeplay, as India crawled at three per over once Dravid fell. Once Kumble chopped Jerome Taylor onto the stumps, Dravid declared.

Twenty-five overs and three LBWs later, it was a decision justifed. Munaf Patel fired successive in-duckers into the pads of Daren Ganga and Ramnaresh Sarwan before the veteran Kumble caught Lara offering no real shot. Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Chris Gayle (34*) were unbeaten at the close, but the follow-on target of 389 is a long haul away if the hosts are to save the Test.

India 588-8
Virender Sehwag 180, Mohammad Kaif 148*, Rahul Dravid 146
Pedro Collins 4-116, Chris Gayle 1-52

West Indies 65-3
Chris Gayle 34*, Daren Ganga 16
Munaf Patel 2-20, Anil Kumble 1-10