St Kitts, June 25 :

West Indies tightened their grip on the third Test against India as Jerome Taylor takes three wickets from before lunch on Sunday.

Taylor removed Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, and Mohammed Kaif in the space of six balls inside the first half-hour on the fourth day to leave India, replying to West Indies’ first innings total of 581, on 241-6 at lunch.

Taylor has been West Indies’ most successful bowler with 3-77, while Corey Collymore, who has 2-37 from 19 overs, dismissed Mahendra Dhoni before the interval. Venkatsai Laxman has held the Indian innings together and was unbeaten on 68 at lunch.

He spent an hour and 45 minutes with Dhoni trying to repair the early damage with a stand of 61 for the sixth wicket. Collymore had Dhoni (29) adjudged leg before. Taylor had got stuck into the Indian batting after the visitors had continued from their overnight total of 150-2, needing to reach 382 to avoid the follow-on. Taylor had India captain Rahul Dravid adjudged leg before for 22 in the fast bowler’s first over of the day.

In Taylor’s second over, he struck twice in the space of three deliveries. Left-hander Yuvraj Singh was caught behind, and Mohammed Kaif was dubiously adjudged leg before also for a duck. Laxman remained unflappable and reached his 50 when he drove Taylor into wide mid-on for a single.

The four-Test series is still level at 0-0, after the first two Tests at the Antigua Recreation Ground and the Beausejour Cricket Ground ended in tense draws. The series concludes at Kingston’s Sabina Park from June 30 to July 4.