By IANS,
Mumbai : The West Indies were off to a good start as they reached 80 for no loss in their first innings at lunch on the first day of the third and final cricket Test against India at the Wankhede Stadium here Tuesday.
Opening batsman Adrian Barath was batting on 37 (76 balls, 6×4) and his partner Kraigg Brathwaite was on 35 (105 balls, 4×4) after the first session’s play. The openers were watchful in their approach after West Indies captain Darren Sammy won the toss and decided to bat on a surface that had some assistance for the medium pacers.
It was one of the best starts by the openers in the series and it was also the third half-century opening stand for the West Indies team in the year.
Indian pacers Ishant Sharma and debutant Varun Aaron, who replaced Umesh Yadav, could purchase little sideways movement from the track and the ball was changed in the fourth over after it went out of shape.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni introduced spin as early as in the ninth over with left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha. But the West Indies batsmen were cautious and played defensively.
The West Indies are without their most experienced batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who has been ruled out with a calf muscle injury. India are leading the three-match series 2-0 and are eyeing a clean sweep at the Wankhede.