Mukund, Laxman consolidate for India

Abhinav Mukund stroked a maiden half-century to steady India, carrying them to 102 for two at lunch in their first innings in the rain-hit third Test against the West Indies on Friday.The left-handed opener was not out on 52 and V.V.S. Laxman not out 30, putting on an unbroken 84 for the third wicket, as the Indians continued their reply to the hosts' first innings 204 on the third day at Windsor Park.Mukund reached his landmark from 132 balls, playing a delivery from leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo uppishly through mid-on off the back-foot for a single.He and Laxman took advantage of a West Indies attack hamstrung by an illness that has sidelined fast bowler Ravi Rampaul to settle things down for the visitors, after they lost the wickets of opener Murali Vijay and former captain Rahul Dravid inside the first hour.Vijay's horrendous form on this trip continued when he was caught behind off Fidel Edwards for five, playing defensively forward at a delivery that moved away outside the off-stump.Dravid, whose 212 runs prior to the match was a series-high, was undone by an unplayable delivery from West Indies captain Darren Sammy that moved back sharply and was bowled between bat and pad for five.India were 18 for two, but Laxman joined Mukund and they batted fluently to consolidate their side's position.The Indians hold a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series, following a 63-run victory inside four days in the first Test at Sabina Park in Jamaica and a draw in the second Test at Kensington Oval in Barbados.The visitors are looking to wrap up their second straight Test series victory over West Indies in the Caribbean.They are also bidding to create a piece of history by becoming the first Indian side to win a Test and one-day international series in the Caribbean