Chasing an imposing target of 316 runs for a win, India lost its explosive opening batsman Virender Sehwag (12) caught by Hooper in the slips off Lawson’s bowling. The speedster struck again, leaving India 56/2 in the tenth over, VVS Laxman (22) caught behind. West Indies tasted further success when Lawson sent Dinesh Mongia’s (20) off stump for a walk. Young Lawson rounded it off picking up his fourth wicket, skipper Rahul Dravid spectacularly caught one-handed by Sarwan at short mid-wicket.

West Indies clearly had the upper hand, and they furthered the advantage by getting rid of Mohd Kaif (10) – dragging a ball from Collymore onto the stumps. In the 21st over India slumped to 107/6, Bangar (2) was trapped lbw by Collymore.

Yuvraj Singh (38*) in the meanwhile struck four boundaries off the first ten deliveries he faced, refusing to allow the Windies bowlers to dictate terms to him. But, India were to suffer again – Ajit Agarkar (4) was caught by Collymore off Chris Gayle, trying to hit his way out of the growing pressure.

From a score of 115/2 at the end of the 25th over, West Indies batsmen accelerated the scoring considerably. Soon after Sarwan had hit Sehwag for a huge six, Hinds (58 off 70 balls) was bowled by Sehwag in the 28th over.

Marlon Samuels walked in and started playing so gracefully. He swept a huge six off Kartik over square leg, to make his intentions very clear. West Indies had a clear game plan and they were sticking to it - take the attack to the opposition.

If Sarwan is guilty of anything in his career, it has to be his failure to score an international hundred. Today too he looked good to reach the three-figure-mark, playing strokes so fluently and using the feet to drive the spinners.

Sarwan (83 off 100 balls) was trapped leg before by Ajit Agarkar; the batsman trying to cut a straight ball and missing it all together. The youngster had struck one six and half a dozen boundaries, and in the process added 50 runs for the fourth wicket with Samuels off 9.5 overs.

What followed was a deluge of runs - after West Indies had reached the 200-run-mark in the 41st over, the floodgates were thrown open. In the 42nd over, Samuels struck Srinath straight down the ground for a six to make it ten runs off the over. It was only a reminder of what was going to follow.

Sanjay Bangar bowled the 43rd over that cost him 15 runs. Samuels his three consecutive boundaries; the first was a fine flick for four to bring up his fifty, then an exquisite extra cover drive for four, followed with a sweetly timed flick through mid-wicket. It was all touch and sheer class.

In the meanwhile, Ricardo Powell turned his attention to Murali Kartik - hitting a couple of boundaries.

Srinath was made to look like some club bowler by Samuels - taking 21 runs off the 47th over. The most experienced Indian bowler had no answer to Samuels class - as this was not any sort of sloging - but pure stroke play. The sequence of scoring in that over was 4,6,4,2,4,1; the attempted slower ball disappearing over extra cover for a massive six.

Virender Sehwag bowled the 48th over, and Samuels smashed a couple of towering sixes - over long on and over square leg. The big crowd was stunned into silence by this amazing onslaught.

Though Ricardo Powell (30 off 28 balls) was dismissed looking for quick runs, Hooper (13 off 6 balls) kept the tempo going hitting a massive six over mid-wicket. Samuels maiden hundred came in the 50th over and he finished the West Indies innings in great style, cracking two straight drives for fours.

In the very second over off the West Indies innings, which was bowled by Ajit Agarkar, Gayle got a thick edge, and the ball flew low to Sanjay Bangar at first slip. Agarkar was soon kicking the air in dismay as the ball slipped out of Bangar's right hand.

India didn't have to pay dearly for that mistake, as two balls later, Gayle gave an easy catch to Mohammad Kaif at short covers off the bowling of Javagal Srinath. With the ball not coming on to the bat, Gayle paid the price for trying to drive on the rise and a bit too early.

Instead of Marlon Samuels, it was Chanderpaul who came out to bat at number three. In the sixth over, Agarkar got rid of Chanderpaul, caught by Murali Kartik at mid-off. West Indies were in considerable trouble at 16 for the loss of two wickets at that stage.

Hinds and Sarwan took the responsibility of steadying the West Indies innings, bringing up the fifty in the 14th over. At the end of the 15th over, West Indies were 57/2

Soon after the 15th over, umpire AV Jayaprakash got into the act. The first ball of the 16th over bowled by Bangar was called a no ball as there were more than two fielders outside the thirty-yard circle. It was a wrong call, for he had failed to notice that the 15th over had gone by. Only after skipper Dravid protested, did the umpire change his decision.

Hinds and Sarwan started scoring freely after that, and West Indies' 100 runs came up in the 22nd over as Hinds thumped Sehwag to the long-on fence. Hinds has so far hit seven boundaries and Sarwan has struck the ball past the ropes four times.

India have made one change to their side, off-spinner Sarandeep Singh replaces all-rounder Reetinder Singh Sodhi. Harbhajan Singh is still not fit due to the groin injury.

West Indies have also made on change, fast bowler Jermaine Lawson replaces the injured left-arm pacer Pedro Collins.

The pitch looks a good one to bat on, and might get slower and lower later in the day.

India: D Mongia, V Sehwag, AB Agarkar, VVS Laxman, R Dravid (Captain), Yuvraj Singh, M Kaif, SB Bangar, Sarandeep Singh, J Srinath, M Kartik.

West Indies: Carl Hooper (Captain), Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ricardo Powell, Ridley Jacobs, Corey Collymore, Vasbert Drakes, Jermaine Lawson.

Umpires: EAR de Silva (SL) and AV Jayaprakash, TV Umpire: K Hariharan, Match Referee: MJ Procter (SA)