Landmark for Kumble as Windies struggle

E-Paper | March 11, 2026

GROS ISLET (St Lucia), June 12: Anil Kumble became the joint fourth highest wicket-taker in Test history as India took two West Indies wickets to leave the home side on 139 for five at lunch on the third day of the second Test on Monday.

West Indies are chasing India's first innings of 588 for eight declared. Wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin is 16 not out and Dwayne Bravo is with him on 14.

Leg-spinner Kumble joined former West Indian fast bowler Courtney Walsh on 519 career wickets when he had Chris Gayle caught behind for 46.

Gayle had dug in for 37.5 overs before he prodded at a delivery from the crease and got a fine edge through to wicket-keeper Mahendra Dhoni, who had to gather the ball on the second attempt after it bounced from his gloves off his shoulder.

Kumble, playing his 108th Test, needs 24 wickets to overtake Australia's Glenn McGrath, with 542 in 119 matches, as the third highest wicket-taker in Tests.

Gayle's dismissal left West Indies on 106 for four and needing 389 to avoid the follow-on.

Irfan Pathan reduced them to 106 for five four balls later when he removed Shivnarine Chanderpaul for 30.

Chanderpaul walked across his stumps and, trying to play a yorker square on the leg-side, missed to be adjudged leg-before wicket.

On Sunday, Mohammad Kaif made 148 not out, his maiden Test century and highest first-class score.

The West Indies were rocked by a double strike by pace bowler Munaf Patel and Kumble then removed Brian Lara for seven.

Patel struck shortly after the players returned from a six-minute rain delay, trapping Daren Ganga (16) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (0) both lbw with successive balls.

Captain Lara began aggressively against the seamers, but Kumble trapped him, also lbw, with his eighth delivery.

Centuries by opener Virender Sehwag (180), Dravid and Kaif made up the bulk of India's highest total in the Caribbean, beating the 521 for six declared in the previous drawn Test in St John's, Antigua.

The 25-year-old Kaif reached his century seven overs before the umpires took the players off the field half-an-hour into the second session for bad light.

Scoreboard

INDIA (1st Innings):

V. Sehwag c and b Collins 180

Wasim Jaffer c Bravo b Collins 43

V.V.S. Laxman c Ramdin b Collins 0

R. Dravid c Lara b Sarwan 146

Yuvraj Singh b Collins 2

Mohammad Kaif not out 148

M.S. Dhoni c Ganga b Bradshaw 9

Irfan Pathan c Ganga b Gayle 19

A. Kumble b Taylor 14

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-7, W-4, NB-12) 27

TOTAL (for eight decl, 148.2 overs) 588

DID NOT BAT: Munaf Patel, V.R. Singh.

FALL OF WKTS: 1-159, 2-161, 3-300, 4-306, 5-485, 6-517, 7-555.

BOWLING: Collins 28-5-116-4 (1nb); Taylor 24.2-4-88-1 (6nb); Bravo 10-0-66-0 (1w); Collymore 21-1-92-0 (3nb); Bradshaw 26-6-80-1 (2nb); Sarwan 18-0-83-1 (2w); Gayle 21-6-52-1.

WEST INDIES (1st Innings, overnight 65-3):

C.H. Gayle c Dhoni b Kumble 46

D. Ganga lbw b Patel 16

R.R. Sarwan lbw b Patel 0

B.C. Lara lbw b Kumble 7

S. Chanderpaul lbw b Pathan 30

D.J.J. Bravo not out 14

D. Ramdin not out 16

EXTRAS (B-5, LB-1, NB-4) 10

TOTAL (for five wkts, 54 overs) 139

FALL OF WKTS: 1-36, 2-36, 3-55, 4-106, 5-106.

TO BAT: I.D.R. Bradshaw, P.T. Collins, J.E. Taylor, C.D. Collymore.