Jermaine Blackwood smashed an entertaining counter-attacking half-century but India held the upper hand in reducing the West Indies to 88 for four at lunch on the opening day of the second Test in Kingston on Saturday.

Blackwood, who was in danger of being dropped after a double failure in the innings loss in the first Test in Antigua a week earlier, responded with an electrifying innings of 62 with four sixes and seven fours off 62 deliveries to lift the home side from the depths of seven for three.

He completely dominated a fourth-wicket partnership of 81 with Marlon Samuels and offered the sparse opening-day crowd at Sabina Park rich entertainment with a succession of attacking shots off both pacers and spinners. 

However, his adventurous style always made him vulnerable and he fell in the final over before the interval, adjudged leg-before to Ravichandran Ashwin.

SCORES IN BRIEF

WEST INDIES: First Innings 88 for 4 (Blackwood 62, Samuels 14 not out; Sharma 2-24)