Barbados Test ends in a draw

India could not force victory over the West Indies despite an early attacking declaration on the final day of the second Test in Bridgetown as the weather closed in late on.

The tourists had made a surprising declaration midway through the morning session, ending their innings on 269 for six - a lead of 280.

And it looked like it might pay off as they took two quick wickets to leave the Windies on 48 for two at lunch.

But, after losing Adrian Barath for 27 early in the second session, the hosts were able to shore up their innings thanks to Darren Bravo and the watchful Shivnarine Chanderpaul seeing them through to tea.

Rain arrived in the evening session with the West Indies on 181 for five and, although a pair of quick wickets gave the tourists hope again after play resumed, bad light closed in to ensure a draw.

India had added 40 runs at the cost of three wickets before Mahendra Singh Dhoni's declaration.

Having begun the day well set on 229 for three, India watched Virat Kohli go at the end of only the second over, adding one to his overnight tally of 26 before edging behind, and it was the same combination of Darren Sammy and Fidel Edwards who accounted for VVS Laxman, 13 runs shy of a century, moments later.

India might have sought to consolidate, but Dhoni was in attacking mood and it proved costly as he spooned another Edwards delivery up to give Chanderpaul an easy catch, departing for five.

Shortly after reaching the pavilion, Dhoni decided his side had done enough - no doubt aware of possible bad weather later in the day - but a target of 281 left the door open for the hosts to seek a series-levelling victory.

That looked to be on the mind of Lendl Simmons, who hit three quick boundaries but then went for 14 - having faced only 12 balls - when he edged an Ishant Sharma delivery to Rahul Dravid.

When Ramnaresh Sarwan went for eight, also caught in the slips off Praveen Kumar, to leave his side on 27 for two, Dhoni's move was looking inspired.

Barath had been the steady hand before lunch, but did not survive long after it, caught in the slips off Sharma.

However, India toiled fruitlessly in search of another breakthrough before tea, with their frustration growing as they sensed their chance at victory disappearing.

There was joy after tea, with Chanderpaul trapped lbw by Harbhajan Singh having made just 12 off 87 balls - though that was exactly the kind of innings his side had needed.

Marlon Samuels followed soon after for nine, looking decidedly unimpressed at being given lbw to a Sharma delivery that hit him high on the pads, though he had been well back in his crease.

India might have had a sixth wicket with the hosts on 133 but Dhoni dropped what looked to be a straightforward catch from Carlton Baugh, who was yet to score at the time.

Baugh would punish them with an aggressive innings, hitting four fours - three of them in a row - and one six to make 33 off 42 balls before the rain arrived.

Bravo had been the main cause of India's frustration, and he eventually fell for 73, caught behind by Dhoni off Abhimanyu Mithun.

Moments later, Sammy was trapped lbw for a duck to become Sharma's 10th victim of the match, but it proved to be off the penultimate delivery as the umpires called the players off moments later.

India lead the series 1-0 going into the final Test in Roseau next week.