Their unbeaten sixth-wicket partnership of 108 occupied nearly 41 overs and rescued the tourists from the considerable discomfort of 126 for five just before tea with West Indies’ second Test hero Roston Chase and debutant fast bowler Alzarri Joseph taking two wickets each to vindicate their captain’s decision to bowl first on winning the toss.
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Forced to forge a crucial alliance with five top-order batsmen back in the hut early after West Indies won the toss and fielded on Tuesday morning, the two did well to steer India out of trouble and then to 234 for 5 at stumps on the first day.
Starting the afternoon session on 316-5, the tourists soon lost Saha, caught behind off the bowling of Alzarri Joseph.
The 25-year-old seemed to be heading for another wicket-less outing in the second day of the third Test here yesterday when he produced a hostile burst in the second session as India declined from 339 for five to 353 all out – losing their last five wickets for just 14 runs.
India have also made two more changes, replacing Amit Mishara and Umesh Yadav with Ravindra Jadeja and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
West Indies’s new opening pair of Leon Johnson and Kraigg Brathwaite started off on the right footing.
Earlier on Day 1, India was struggling till tea session with only 130 for 5 wickets on board.
Spinner Ashwin was the first to three figures, reaching the landmark off 264 balls, and Saha joined him as a centurion just after their partnership passed 200.
# Ravichandran Ashwin’s unbeaten 75 not out off 190 balls is his first fifty vs West Indies – his seventh in Tests.
Ashwin got to his 4th Test hundred with a six while Saha too notched up his maiden Test ton.
Hello and welcome to CricketCountry’s live cricket blog and live cricket updates’ post of the third day’s play between India and West Indies, in the third Test, at the Darren Sammy International Stadium. The batting collapse resulted in India being bowled for 353.
One interesting number is West Indies’ run rate against Shami when they have not been in control.
After saving India major blushes with a patient knock on the first day to take them from 126/5 to 234/5, Ashwin and Saha started from where they left. In his second Test, Cummins finally managed to pick up a wicket and eventually finished with three wickets as India were bowled out for 355.
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The immediate breakthrough put the West Indies in complete command of proceedings as Ashwin came out to bat.
