Wavell Hinds hit the first century for the West Indies on their tour of India, leading a strong reply to their hosts' first innings 358.

But three wickets for spinner Harbhajan Singh late in the day lifted the spirits of the home side, who have already clinched the series.

Hinds was dismissed shortly after reaching his third Test ton, sweeping Harbhajan to square leg.

And the spinner followed up with two wickets in the space of three balls to account for Ramnaresh Sarwan and nightwatchman Merv Dillon.

Chris Gayle was joined by Shivnarine Chanderpaul before the umpires called stumps five overs early as the skies darkened.

The left-hander played cautiously in a 172-run partnership with Hinds but took the charge to the bowlers after his fellow Jamaican left the action.

Gayle's unbeaten 80 occupied 202 deliveries with 14 fours and a massive six off Harbhajan.

Anil Kumble was treated most harshly of the attack, his 19 overs coasting 73 runs.

Rearguard action

Earlier, Parthiv Patel and Srinath led a late-order recovery to lift India after being reduced to 280 for seven in the first over of the morning.

Patel, dropped by Carl Hooper on his overnight score of 18, hit a fluent 47 before driving Jermaine Lawson to Chanderpaul at point.

And Srinath smashed a 40-ball 46, with seven fours and a six in a run-a-ball eighth-wicket stand of 73 to leave the hosts in a comfortable position.

The pair came together after Cameron Cuffy struck in the first over of the day, bowling Harbhajan for six.

But Harbhajan got the last laugh late in the evening when Sarwan was stumped coming down the wicket and Dillon yorked for a duck.

India: Sourav Ganguly (captain), Virender Sehwag, Sanjay Bangar, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Parthiv Patel, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Javagal Srinath, Ashish Nehra.

West Indies: Carl Hooper (captain), Wavell Hinds, Chris Gayle, Darren Ganga, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ryan Hinds, Marlon Samuels, Ridley Jacobs, Mervyn Dillon, Cameron Cuffy.

Umpires: David Shepherd and Asoka De Silva. TV umpire: Arani Jayaprakash. Match Referee Mike Procter.