Shiv now most capped Windies player, rain ruins 1st day

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – Persistent rain forced a  premature end to the opening day of the third and final test  between India and West Indies in Dominica on Wednesday after the  tourists had made a bright start.
Ishant Sharma captured two wickets and Praveen Kumar one  before lunch as India seized control early after winning the  toss and sending the opposition in to bat. However, the foul  weather stopped their momentum and washed out most of the day.
Only 3.1 overs were bowled after lunch and when stumps were  drawn, with the covers still on the ground, West Indies were 75  for three with Darren Bravo (22 not out) and Shivnarine  Chanderpaul (17 not out) trying to rebuild the innings with an  unbroken partnership of 40.
The pair had come together in the morning session after  India had ripped through the top order and reduced West Indies  to 35-3 in the 17th over.
Kumar made the initial breakthrough when he dismissed Kieran  Powell cheaply then Sharma, man of the match in last week’s  drawn second test in Barbados, bowled Adrian Barath for 12 and  Kirk Edwards was caught behind for six.
India, who lead the series 1-0 after winning the opening test  in Jamaica, made one change to the side that drew in Barbados  with paceman Munaf Patel replacing Abhimanyu Mithun.
West Indies made two changes, dropping batsmen Lendl Simmons  and Ramnaresh Sarwan in favor of Powell and Edwards.
While the two batsmen were making their test debuts,  Chanderpaul was making his 133rd test appearance to become the  most capped West Indian in tests and eclipsing the previous  record of 132 held by Courtney Walsh.
The 36-year-old left hander made his test debut in 1994 and  has been a regular member of the team ever since, scoring more  than 9,000 runs, including 22 centuries, at an average over 48.
“It feels good to reach this landmark. I just want to keep  doing my best in every match,” Chanderpaul said in a statement.
West Indies team manager Richie Richardson, a team mate of  Chanderpaul’s when he made his test debut, paid tribute to his  outstanding career.
“When Shiv first came into the team years back you could see  the desire to play for a long time. He has worked hard over the  years and it is great to see him reaching this landmark,”  Richardson said.