West Indies would certainly have hoped to extend their total well beyond 500 this morning but once again, the lower order showed the frailty and the sloppiness that we've come to expect from them. The last run-out was especially disappointing but credit to the Indian bowlers for hanging in there and getting the job done. West Indies must have felt they had an outstanding chance of going on and winning this match when they came out to field. Once again, the new ball caused plenty of problems. India were in a bit of strife early on but Sachin Tendulkar batted quite beautifully - with the flair and fluency that we've come to expect from him - when he came to the crease.

Having said that, Mahendra Nagamootoo bowled really well to him. He may not be the biggest spinner of the ball but he has good control. He restricted Sachin when he came on and I think frustration played a major role in his dismissal. It also didn't help Sachin that Rahul Dravid was scratching around at the other end during that phase.

His inability to keep the scoreboard ticking over increased the pressure on Tendulkar and the shot he played to get out wasn't the best you'll ever see from him. He'd scored pretty freely till he got to 73, but the next six runs were an age in coming. That might explain why he went for a premeditated pull even though the ball wasn't all that short.

Tendulkar's dismissal opened the gate a wee bit for West Indies, or so they must have thought at the time. But this pitch is still a beauty to bat on. India's first target now is the 302 they need to avoid the follow-on but Dravid and VVS Laxman should look beyond that. They were quite positive in the latter stages of the day's play and it was a very good partnership for the Indians.

Dravid got over his hesitant start and batted much better as the day wore in. In that respect, he reminded me of Carl Hooper. The first 50 runs that Hooper scored, he looked very mediocre, like he could get out any time. But he didn't panic, knowing that if you're good enough, the runs will come, as long as you stay at the crease. That, really, is the essence of Test-match batting. Laxman's approach also helped Dravid. He scored so fluently that it must have given Dravid a real fillip watching from the other end.

For West Indies, it wasn't too bad a debut for Adam Sanford. He was hardly scintillating but then, not many fast bowlers are at the Bourda. He bowled at a reasonable pace but doesn't look like he does too much with the ball. I will reserve judgment though, till I see him on a pitch that has something in it for the quick bowlers.

Michael Holding, a key member of the West Indies pace quartet of the 1970s and '80s, will be contributing the Wisden Verdict for all the Tests in this series. He was talking to Dileep Premachandran.

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