Sachin Tendulkar made an unlikely contribution with the ball in his penultimate match as India took control of the first Test with West Indies.
The 40-year-old will retire from cricket at the conclusion of the second Test in Mumbai but made it clear before the series-opener that his mind was very much focused on the task of beating Darren Sammy’s men.
And the Little Master was as good as his word as he trapped Shane Shillingford in front for five to claim his 46th Test victim in his 199th five-day match.
The men from the Caribbean had high hopes of spoiling the Tendulkar party but too many of the tourists’ batsmen failed to build on promising starts in Kolkata.
Kieran Powell made 28 while Darren Bravo was run out for 23, with Marlon Samuels contributing 65 and veteran left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul scoring 36.
But nobody went on to post three figures, with another four batsmen falling in the teens, and a total of 234 all out was a disappointing result for the visitors.
All eyes will be on Tendulkar when he comes out to bat but it is unclear when that will be as the Asians moved on to 37 without loss at stumps, with Murali Vijay unbeaten on 16 and Shikhar Dhawan 21 not out.
The veteran right-hander is scheduled to come in at number four and should get a bat on Thursday in what is bound to be an emotional swansong to his incredible career in all forms of the game.
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