Dravid found it hard to score against Dillon

The Hyderabad batsman, playing his 34th test, passed 2,000 runs in Test cricket when he reached 28.

Ratra, almost dropped for this Test due to poor batting form, rose to the occasion with his maiden Test half-century.

India won the second Test at Trinidad by 37 runs last month but West Indies hit back with a 10-wicket win at Barbados to level the series 1-1.

There was, however, precious little excitement earlier on the second day as India scraped together just 65 from 32 overs in the afternoon session to go into tea at 337-6.

Dravid despair

West Indian tails were up when overnight pair Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid were both dismissed within the first hour.

Anil Kumble was the third wicket to go to, leaving the tourists on 272-6 at lunch.

By the time Dravid was bowled in the 10th over of the day, the tourists had managed just nine runs.

Merv Dillon and Cameron Cuffy bowled stiflingly, and both were rewarded courtesy of loose cuts shots.

India captain Ganguly was collected by Wavell Hinds for 45 and Dravid followed three overs later, bottom-edging onto his stumps.

Dravid was nine short of his 11th Test century, and had faced a marathon 291 deliveries.

Kumble was hit on the chin by a short delivery from Dillon, and was out shortly afterwards, fending Dillon to Shivnarine Chanderpaul at leg gully for six.

West Indies: W W Hinds, C H Gayle, R R Sarwan, B C Lara C L Hooper (Capt), S Chanderpaul, R D Jacobs (Wkt), M Dillon P T Collins, A Sanford, C E Cuffy.

India: S S Das, W Jaffer, R Dravid, S R Tendulkar S C Ganguly (Capt), V V S Laxman, A Ratra (Wkt), A Kumble, Z Khan J Srinath, A Nehra.

Umpires: D R Shepherd and R B Tiffin