Kolkata: Rohit Sharma and R.Ashwin recorded the highest 7th wicket partnership as strong India take a huge lead of 219 before being bowled out for 453 in the first match against the West Indies here today.
Rohit missed out on a double century on debut by 23 runs while R Ashwin slammed his second Test ton.
Sharma was dismissed for a marathon 177 and Ashwin contributed 124 as India's first innings ended at the stroke of lunch on the third day at the Eden Gardens. The duo added a record 280-run partnership for India for the seventh wicket.
For the visitors, Shane Shillingford was the most successful bowler, taking six for 167 in 55 overs.
Resuming at overnight 354/6, India scored 99 runs for the loss of four wickets in the first session. Sharma added 50 runs to his overnight unbeaten knock of 127 while Ashwin, who started the day on 92, managed 32 runs before he was bowled by Shillingford.
Sharma, after spending a little over six hours in the middle, was trapped in front of the wicket by Veerasammy Permaul. The 26-year-old Mumbaikar smashed 23 fours and a six, while Ashwin found the fence 11 times.
The West Indies triggered a collapse after Sharma's dismissal as India lost their remaining four wickets for 17 runs.
Sharma also became the second Indian after Shikhar Dhawan to score a 150 on debut.
Sharma padded a straighter one on the offstump from leftarm spinner Permaul to be adjudged lbw by umpire Richard Kettleborough.
It was a huge relief for the Indies who had been struggling to break the partnership that began midway into the second session yesterday.
Ashwin, too, did not last long and his career best innings came to an end after being bowled around the legs by Shillingford, who grabbed his fifth five-wicket haul in Tests
India 1st innings R M B 4s 6s SR
S Dhawan b Shillingford 23 64 34 4 0 67.64
M Vijay st †Ramdin b Shillingford 26 92 75 2 0 34.66
CA Pujara c †Ramdin b Cottrell 17 64 36 2 0 47.22
SR Tendulkar lbw b Shillingford 10 41 24 2 0 41.66
V Kohli c Powell b Shillingford 3 13 5 0 0 60.00
RG Sharma lbw b Permaul 177 301 23 1 58.80
MS Dhoni*† c †Ramdin b Best 42 77 63 5 0 66.66
R Ashwin b Shillingford 124 210 11 0 59.04
B Kumar c Gayle b Shillingford 12 20 2 0 60.00
Md Shami st †Ramdin b Permaul 1 7 0 0 14.28
PP Ojha not out 2 6 0 0 33.33
Extras (b 4, lb 8, w 1, nb 3) 16
Total (all out; 129.4 overs) 453 (3.49 runs per over)
Fall of wickets 1-42 (Dhawan, 14.4 ov), 2-57 (Vijay, 20.4 ov), 3-79 (Pujara, 27.4 ov), 4-82 (Tendulkar, 28.3 ov), 5-83 (Kohli, 30.2 ov), 6-156 (Dhoni, 51.1 ov), 7-436 (Sharma, 123.1 ov), 8-444 (Ashwin, 126.3 ov), 9-451 (Kumar, 128.1 ov), 10-453 (Mohammed Shami, 129.4 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ
TL Best 17 0 71 1 4.17
SS Cottrell 18 3 72 1 4.00 (1w)
S Shillingford 55 9 167 6 3.03 (3nb)
V Permaul 23.4 2 67 2 2.83
DJG Sammy 12 1 52 0 4.33
MN Samuels 4 0 12 0 3.00
