Roseau (Dominica), July 9: Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni top-scored with an unbeaten 65 in a strong batting show as India strengthened its position in the third cricket Test against the West Indies by taking a healthy 104-run lead on day three here on Friday.
As many as four visiting batsmen scored fifties as India, resuming at eight for no loss, ended the day at 308 for six while replying to hosts' 204 all out.
Dhoni shared 103-run sixth wicket stand with Suresh Raina (50) and made sure that the good work of opener Abhinav Mukund (62), VVS Laxman (56) Virat Kohli (30) does not go waste.
West Indies, deprived of services of Ravi Rampaul and handicapped by a hobbling Darren Sammy, never quite wilted under a scorching sun and on a flat pitch on a day when 94 overs were bowled at Windsor Park.
Nearly 90 overs were lost on the first two days of the match due to poor light and rain but no such problem emerged on Friday.
India lost two early wickets of Murali Vijay (1) and Rahul Dravid (5) but thereafter steadily mounted their total without ever dominating a depleted attack.
Dhoni, played his first innings of substance of tour, and when on 52 completed 3000 runs in Test cricket in the 86th innings of his 57th Test.
The Indian captain has so far batted for 157 minutes and struck three fours from 109 balls. He walked in when India were frittering away the advantage, losing three wickets in the afternoon to nothing balls.
Mukund, Kohli and Laxman were all guilty of poor judgment as the visitors lost three wickets in the middle session. PTI
