India thrash West Indies in Kolkata to seal series win

Laxman top scored in the match an unbeaten 176

India took an unassailable 2-0 series lead against the West Indies with an innings and 15-run victory in Kolkata.

The hosts amassed a first innings lead of 478 after declaring on 631-7 and then dismissing the visitors for 153.

VVS Laxman (176 not out), captain Mahendra Dhoni (144) and Rahul Dravid (119) all made centuries for the hosts.

The West Indies showed resilience in their second innings with Darren Bravo making 136, but they were eventually all out for 463.

It would have taken a historic effort from the tourists to salvage anything from the game after a dominant India piled on a mammoth first innings advantage.

Dravid's 36th Test century put India firmly in control on the opening day, before Laxman and Dhoni enjoyed a seventh-wicket partnership of 224.

The hosts declared after tea on day two and West Indies openers Adrian Barath and Kraigg Brathwaite were dismissed before the close.

The away side were bundled out in the morning session of day three, with only Bravo (30) and Marlon Samuels (25) offering any resistance.

Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha picked up four wickets on a slow, turning pitch at Eden Gardens, while seamer Umesh Yadav and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin chipped in with three and two respectively.

After the follow-on had been forced, the West Indies put on a vastly improved batting performance with Barath (62) and Kirk Edwards (60) scoring dogged half-centuries.

But paceman Ishant Sharma claimed the pair's wickets before stumps on day three.

Bravo then took responsibility with stylish second Test century and the left-hander and Marlon Samuels (84) put on a 132-run stand for the fifth wicket.

Ojha claimed the crucial wicket of Bravo when he edged to lone slip Dravid and a West Indies collapse ensued, with the final six wickets falling for just 62 runs.

Paceman Yadav took four second-innings wickets, while Sharma, Ojha and Ashwin added two apiece, completing a resounding win before tea on the fourth day.

"The bowlers are hunting in a pack," Dhoni said afterwards. "It doesn't matter who is taking the wickets.

"I think the first innings was perfect, after that it was a game of patience."

West Indies captain Darren Sammy said: "I'd like to commend the guys in the second innings and, if we put two innings together, we can pose a challenge to other teams."

India won the first Test by five wickets last week and the final Test of the three-match series will be held in Mumbai from Tuesday.