Special 100 for Edwards

ROSEAU, Dominica (AP):

Kirk Edwards hit a resilient 110 on debut but West Indies were still struggling at 224 for six, a modest lead of 81, against India at the close of the fourth day of the third cricket Test at Windsor Park yesterday.

Edwards stroked nine fours and a six in becoming the 13th West Indian to notch a century on debut.

Barbadian Edwards, watched by his father Glendon, faced 195 balls and batted just short of five hours.

He received great support from veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who compiled an unbeaten 73. The pair shared a determined fourth-wicket stand of 161 that pulled the hosts out of the early peril of 40-3.

Chanderpaul struck five fours off 201 deliveries in 280 minutes.

"It feels good,'' Edwards said. "I was not nervous. I just knew that I had my work cut out, so I just stuck to the task.

A great feeling

"Obviously, it's a great feeling to have a guy like Shiv with you at the crease,'' Edwards said. "It was a pleasure playing an innings today with Shiv.''

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh broke the stand by claiming Edwards, and finished with 3-61.

Swing bowler Praveen Kumar took two for 29, including a late wicket as the visitors grabbed three near the end to swing the balance back in their favour.

Earlier, Fidel Edwards grabbed five for 103 as India folded quickly in the morning session for 347, a first-innings lead of 143, after resuming on 308 for six.

India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni stretched his top score to 74.

Fidel Edwards struck with the second ball of the day, his well-directed bouncer hurrying Harbhajan (12) into a hook that skied into the leg-side for a running catch to wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh.

Dhoni and Praveen Kumar (23) added a further 31 before the last three wickets tumbled for eight runs.

Dhoni swatted a pull straight to deep square leg at 339-8.

Kumar's knock, decorated with two fours and a six off 27 balls, ended when he sliced a catch to backward point.

Fidel Edwards claimed his 10th five-wicket haul in Tests when another lifter forced Sharma (2) to fend straight to short leg.