Shilly topped by Sharma, Ashwin

Thu, Nov 7, '13

KOLKATA, India – Spell-binding bowling from Shane Shillingford was overshadowed by a debut Test hundred from Rohit Sharma and his face-saving, seventh-wicket stand with Ravichandran Ashwin that neutralised a West Indies fight-back and kept India in front in the first Test on Thursday here.

Off-spinner Shillingford grabbed 4-130 from 41 overs, but Sharma was undefeated on 127 and Ashwin was unbeaten on 92 eyeing his second Test hundred, as India reached 354 for six in their first innings on the second day at Eden Gardens for a lead so far of 120.

Shillingford appeared to have brought the Windies back into the Test with his four scalps, as India stumbled to 120 for five at lunch, and Tino Best put them on the brink of taking firm control when he removed opposing captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni following a sixth-wicket stand of 73 with Sharma after the interval.