Roseau, Dominica: Inclement weather had the final say on day one of the third and final Test between West Indies and India on Wednesday as the hosts finished at 75/3 after Ishant Sharma rattled the opposition early on with a fine spell of new ball bowling.
Persistent rain just after the lunch break forced play to be called off with Darren Bravo and Shivnarine Chanderpaul unbeaten on on 22 and 17 respectively.
Earlier, Sharma was in top form yet again for the visitors, taking two top order wickets and Praveen Kumar chipped in with one as the Windies went into lunch precariously perched at 53/3.
Bravo (16) and Chanderpaul (10) led a mini recovery for the hosts putting on 25 runs for the fourth wicket but it was India who dominated proceedings in the pre-lunch session.
The West Indies got off to a shaky start when debutant opening batsman Kieran Powell was caught by VVS Laxman in the second slip off the bowling of Praveen Kumar after Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and elected to bowl first.
Powell was out for three and paid the price for fishing outside the off stump to give the visitors their first wicket.
An Ishant bouncer down the leg side accounted for opener Adrian Barath who only managed to drag the ball on to his stumps as the Windies lost their second wicket. Barath made 12 runs off 38 balls.
The home team were then dealt a body blow when a failed hook shot by Kirk Edwards found its way into the gloves of Dhoni off Sharma's bowling although replays suggested that the ball might have come off the batsman's helmet. Edwards made six off 29 balls.
Bravo and Chanderpaul then negotiated the remaining overs to deny the visitors any further wickets before the weather gods intervened.
The Indians lead the three match series 1-0 and a win or draw here will mean that they win both the ODI and Test series in the Caribbean for the first time.
In pics: West Indies vs India, 3rd Test
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