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PHOTOS: Shami takes four to bowl out WI for 234

Pacer Mohammed Shami got his Test career off to a splendid start, claiming four wickets on his debut to bowl out West Indies for 234 in their first innings, on day one of the first Test match at the Eden Gardens, in Kolkata, on Wednesday.

- Scorecard

Local lad Shami claimed four for 71, troubling the West Indies batsmen with good pace and swing, as the visitors lost their last eight wickets for 96 runs in a disappointing batting performance on a good wicket.

- Farewell Sachin... write a postcard to the batting icon

In reply, India reached 37 for no loss at stumps on the opening day.

West Indies elect to bowl in Kolkata Test

Earlier, West Indies captain Darren Sammy won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat first. A specially made 10 gram gold coin was used for the toss, featuring Sachin Tendulkar’s face embossed on one side, and the name of the venue on the other.

For India, the in-form Rohit Sharma was finally handed his debut six years after making his international debut. He had hit a double century in the seventh and final One-Day International against Australia in Bangalore, on Saturday.

Pacer Mohammed Shami also made his Test debut in front of his home fans.

For West Indies, pacer Sheldon Cottrell made his debut in place of Kemar Roach, who is yet to recover from a shoulder problem.

Tendulkar plays his 199th Test

Veteran Tendulkar walked out to a huge reception from his beloved fans at the Eden Gardens, in Kolkata.

- Farewell Sachin... write a postcard to the batting icon

This is Tendulkar's penultimate and 199th Test match and he will retire from cricket after the next Test match in Mumbai, which will make him the first player to feature in a record 200 Test matches.

Debutant Shami claims the wicket of Powell

Pacer Shami struck in the first over of his second spell, dismissing Kieran Powell for 28.

The left-hander was looking to cut loose, hitting five fours and a six in his 40-ball knock, before he top edged the pull shot as Bhuvneshwar ran back from mid-off and completed a good catch.

Darren Bravo steadies West Indies

Left-hander Darren Bravo steadied West Indies after a couple of quick wickets.

Bravo defended for most part of his innings till he lofted R Ashwin over mid-off for a boundary and then a few balls later launched him back over his head for a huge six.

He was unbeaten on 16 from 71 balls at the lunch break, putting on an unbroken stand of 60 runs for the third wicket with Samuels.

Samuels hits fifty to lift West Indies

Samuels got off the mark with a boundary off the first ball he faced, through the fine leg region off Shami.

In Shami's next over, he got another couple of fours and adopted a positive approach throughout his innings. He looked to attack the spinners as he went after left-armer Pragyan Ojha and lofted him over long-on for a six.

A few overs later, Samuels again targetted Ojha, hitting him for a six and a boundary off successive deliveries, in the 25th over.

He brought up his half-century from 61 balls, having hit eight fours and a six, to lift West Indies after the early dismissal of their openers.

Shami triggers collapse

West Indies were looking steady courtesy of a good partnership between Samuels and Bravo before Shami made the breakthrough to trigger a mini collapse.

Samuels, who hit 65 from 98 balls, was done in by the reverse swing and was bowled for a brisk 65 from 98 balls, laced with 11 fours and two sixes.

Shami shines with the ball

Bravo was run out after a huge misunderstanding with Shivnarine Chanderpaul for 23 and once again it was Shami, who was responsible for that wicket.

The Bengal pacer then bowled Ramdin for four through the gate with a quick delivery that came in sharply as the visitors slipped to 143 for five.

Tendulkar gets a wicket in his first over

India captain Dhoni handed the ball to Sachin Tendulkar in the last over before the tea break and he made it worse for West Indies with the wicket of Shane Shillingford.

The right-hander played down the wrong line and was dismissed leg before wicket for five as West Indies went into tea at 192 for seven, losing five wickets for 85 runs in 29.2 overs in the post lunch session.

Ashwin's double cripples West Indies

R Ashwin joined the party as he claimed the wickets of Veerasammy Permaul and Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Permaul was caught and bowled by the off-spinner for  14, while veteran Chanderpaul was bowled 36.

Shami takes 4 as WI are bowled out for 234

Shami bowled lastman Sheldon Cottrell for a duck as West Indies were bowled out for 234 in 78 overs in their first innings.

Shami finished as the most successful bowler for India in the first innings, claiming four for 71 in 17 overs, while Ashwin claimed two for 52 in 21 overs.

India off to a good start

Openers Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay got India off to a good start as the hosts reached 37 for no loss in 12 overs.

Dhawan stroked 21 from 27 balls, with the help of four boundaries, while Vijay adopted a cautious approach to score 16 from 45 balls.