India pulverise Windies in Kolkata Test, Laxman, Dhoni also score tons

Kolkata, Nov.15 (ANI): India on Tuesday pulverised the West Indies bowlers, scoring a mammoth 631 for seven declared.

Middle-order batsman V.V.S. Laxman scored an unbeaten 176, while skipper and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni scored 144 in a 224-run partnership for the sixth wicket.

Dhoni declared 20 minutes into the final session after hitting a six in the first over after the break. He fell in the same over to fast bowler Kemar Roach, who had earlier got him twice off no-balls. He declared when he saw Fidel Edwards bowl bouncers at R Ashwin.

The fading light would have been a consideration too. Elements permitting, West Indies were left with 24 overs to face before stumps on day 2.

West Indies' chance to restrict India came early in the morning when slightly variable bounce showed up, and the ball moved around in the humidity and under overcast skies.

Yuvraj Singh scratched around for his 25, and Kemar Roach produced two edges off an aggressive Dhoni's bat by the time he had reached 16. Before Carlton Baugh could catch them, though, the umpire's call of "no-ball" resonated.

With today's century, his 17th in Tests, Laxman has reached 1209 runs in Kolkata, at a stupendous average of 109.9.

Post lunch, the West Indies tried to slow India down through restrictive fields as opposed to wickets. Dhoni and Laxman still managed to go at over four per over, Laxman through singles and twos, and Dhoni through the big hits. (ANI)