VVS Laxman faced a torrid time to start with, balls flying all over the place as both West Indian opening bowlers extracted considerable bounce from the pitch. Wafts outside the off-stump went awry, hooks were edge, bouncers were ducked under - and slowly Laxman emerged into his own, stroking 66 off 74 balls with eight fours, all of them well- timed shots that came amid a flurry of intelligently-placed singles.