Embattled West Indies were left looking to the weather for salvation after Ajinkya Rahane stroked his seventh Test hundred and third in four innings, to leave India as firm favourites to win the second Test at Sabina Park. Resuming on 358-5 India kept on going as they had throughout day two, accumulating runs glacially.
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The West Indies were blown away by a classy India outfit in the first Test, powered by Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin.
He skipped down the track to Chase and lofted the off spinner over mid on to bring up his century with a majestic six.
Persistent showers prevented any play after tea and more rain is forecast on the fourth day with the hosts facing a massive deficit of 304 runs at the start of their second innings.
Rahul and Pujara put on 121 run partnership for the second wicket. He hit just four boundaries off the worst of the worst deliveries. The 24-year-old edged Gabriel’s delivery down the leg side and was cleanly caught by wicket-keeper Shane Dowrich.
Holder, who shrugged off the tropical heat to bowl a spell of nine overs, had several loud appeals for lbw against Ajinkya Rahane, who also was dropped at backward point off the bowling of leg-spinner Devenda Bishoo.
With the century he has now surpassed Polly Umrigar, got the highest score by an Indian in his maiden Test innings in West Indies.
Making the most of his recall to the team due to a thumb injury sustained by Murali Vijay ahead of the match, Raul reached his third Test century with a six over long-on, but was generally watchful throughout the morning in getting to 107 in partnership with Cheteshwar Pujara (37 not out).
Rahul added: “We gave the West Indies bowlers and the lengths and lines they were bowling the respect it demanded”.
However, it has to be the West Indies who went back in the dressing room happier and content of the two sides. The 200-mark for India came up in the 70th over, and the duo celebrated their 100-stand for the 2nd wicket off 283 balls.
On 46, Pujara pushed for a quick single and his gamble resulted in run-out with a direct hit from square leg finding him a metre short at the non-strikers end. Saha, however, couldn’t stay longer. Despite needing treatment for cramps a few times, Rahul kept going, his romance with batting powering his hunger to make the most of the combination of opportunity and good form. The West Indies’ decision to delay the new ball helped him settle down, and he was beaten only once in the first 20 deliveries that he had faced.
Rahul was the only Indian batsman to get past 50.
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Ashwin revealed a keen tactical mind, saying he studies his batting opponents and tries to plot not only the best way to dismiss them, but also how to keep them from scoring freely. This was India’s fifth total of 500 or more runs in the West Indies, all of them having come since 2000. On three other occasions, he beat the batsmen with his pace and bounce.
