Bravo ton leads Windies fight

Following on after conceding a huge 478-run lead in the first innings, West Indies were 339 four at lunch at the Eden Gardens.

Bravo went into the break remaining unbeaten on 117 to register only his second century in Test matches in less than a month. He hit 13 boundaries and four sixes during his 204 ball unconquered stay at the crease.

Bravo shared vital 108 runs for the fourth wicket with Shivnarine Chanderpaul (47) in the first session of the day that had little for the Indian bowlers.

Umesh Yadav (2/68) scalped the only wicket for India when he castled Chanderpaul in the one-and-a-half hour extended morning session in which the visitors scored 144 runs from 36 overs.

But after Chanderpaul`s wicket, Marlon Samuels gave Bravo good company to remain unbeaten on a quickfire 31 (42b, 6x4). The Caribbean side still needed 139 with six wickets in hand to make India bat again in the match.

It was a tough grind for the Indian bowlers in the morning with Bravo and Chanderpaul playing sensible cricket as spin duo of Pragyan Ojha and R Ashwin opened the bowling with a hope to exploit the early morning conditions.

But resuming at the overnight score of 195 for three, the two West Indian left-handers were at ease against the young Indian spinners as they kep the scoreboard ticking with occasional boundaries.

arring one mix up between the two batsmen, there was hardly anything for the Indians in the morning.

There was a confusion between the duo when Bravo came rushing at the non-striking end after playing one to the mid-on even as Chanderpual was unmoved.

But India made a mess of the chance as Gambhir`s throw to Dhoni was wayward and the Indian skipper had to come four-five paces to collect the ball, which gave Bravo amply time to reach home safely.

Having survived the run-out chance on 54, Bravo grew in confidence as he took charge against the Indian spin duo. Bravo hit Ashwin for a six over his head and followed it up with a boundary of Ojha in the next over.

With the tourists looking good on 249 for three, India took the new ball in the 81st over, which resulted in the breakthrough. Just in the fourth over after taking the new ball, India managed to break the dangerous-lookinf fourth-wicket partnership when Chanderpaul played on a Yadav delivery.

The wicket, however, did very little to disturb Bravo`s concentration as he notched up his second Test century with a boundary of Yadav. Earlier, India had declared their first innings at 631 for seven in the post-tea session of day two after electing to bat.

In reply, West Indies had collapsed for mere 153 runs in 48 overs in the first essay, thereby handing India a 478-run lead. India lead the three-Test series 1-0 after registering a five-wicket win in the opening match in Delhi.

The third and final Test begins in Mumbai from November 22.