GROS ISLET: India suffered a late batting collapse, allowing the West Indies to sneak back into the contest after Ravichandran Ashwin and Wriddhiman Saha struck fighting centuries on day two of the third Test here today.
India lost their last five wickets for 37 runs to be 353 all out in the second session. The visitors looked set for a much bigger total when Ashwin (118) and Saha (104) were at the crease but the wicketkeeper-batsman’s dismissal not only ended a marathon 213 run partnership, it also triggered a batting collapse.
The West Indies responded strongly to India’s first innings effort, reaching 107 for one at close of play to trail by 246 runs. Kraigg Brathwaite (53*) and Darren Bravo (18*) came up with a spirited batting effort to give their team a promising start.
Post tea, Leon Johnson (23) and Brathwaite started off from 16/0 as Ashwin (0-17) started proceedings. But that was a ploy to change ends for Mohammed Shami (0-35) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (0-11). Though they got a little more purchase from this move, the batsmen were never really in trouble and brought up their 50-partnership in 114 balls. It was the first time the West Indies’ openers had crossed this mark in the Test series so far.
But their joy was short lived, as Lokesh Rahul made amends for his dropping of Johnson (on 4*) at second slip off Shami early in the innings. Stationed at short midwicket, he was quick to pick up the ball and a direct hit at the non-striker’s end sent Johnson back to the pavilion in the 24th over.
Bravo came to the crease then, and together batted out 23 overs with Brathwaite as the two batsmen saw off the remainder of the session without much bother and put on 48 runs for the second wicket.
SCORECARD
Stumps – Day 2
India 1st innings
KL Rahul c Brathwaite b Chase 50
S Dhawan c †Dowrich b Gabriel 01
V Kohli* c Bravo b Joseph 03
AM Rahane b Chase 35
RG Sharma c †Dowrich b Joseph 09
R Ashwin c Blackwood b Cummins 118
WP Saha† c †Dowrich b Joseph 104
RA Jadeja c †Dowrich b Cummins 6
B Kumar c Johnson b Gabriel 00
Mohammed Shami not out 00
I Sharma c Johnson b Cummins 00
Extras 27
Total 353/10
West Indies 1st innings
KC Brathwaite not out 53
LR Johnson run out (Rahul) 23
DM Bravo not out 18
Extras 13
Total 107/1