West Indies 138-6 against India at lunch

Abhimanyu Mithun struck a vital blow for India in the last five minutes before lunch, removing Shivnarine Chanderpaul to leave West Indies 138 for six in the second Test on Thursday.

Mithun bowled Chanderpaul for a painstaking 37, ending the durable left-hander's resistance that had helped to prop his side up when they continued their response to India's first innings total of 201 on a rain-affected third day at Kensington Oval.

Mithun made the breakthrough after Chanderpaul and Marlon Samuels -- not out on 43 -- had added 77 for the sixth wicket after an hour's delay due to rain at the start of play.

India had had West Indies reeling on 57 for five, but rain, as well as Chanderpaul and Samuels, had prevented them from making further inroads into the hosts' batting.

A delivery from Praveen Kumar was guided by Samuels between third slip and gully to third man for the first boundary of the morning, thereby bringing up the 50-run partnership with Chanderpaul.

Mithun, however, ensured that India did not have to bear a fruitless toil, when he got Chanderpaul to drag a short delivery into his stumps in the penultimate over before the break.

India are looking to wrap up their second straight Test series victory over West Indies in the Caribbean.

They will also be looking to create a piece of history by becoming the first Indian side to win a Test and one-day international series in the Caribbean -- but they will also have to overcome their poor history here.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's team still have cause for optimism though -- following a 10-wicket defeat for Sourav Ganguly's side nine years ago, West Indies have lost six of the last eight Tests they have played at this venue.