Brathwaite (53 not out) and Darren Bravo (18 not out) will carry the battle for the West Indies into the third morning seeking to match the determination and discipline of Ashwin and Saha in their record 213-run sixth-wicket stand that spanned nearly five hours.
Advertisement
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. The keeper-batsman couldn’t go on for long though, edging Alzarri Joseph (3-69) behind soon after, bringing an end to the mega 213-run partnership that saved India the blushes.
Saha’s eagerness meant that 51 runs came off the last 10 overs going into the lunch break, a second session without any loss of wickets for India.
India has made three changes in the side with Ravindra Jadeja, Buvneshwar Kumar and Rohit Sharma replacing Amit Mishra, Umesh Yadav and Cheteshwar Pujara.
West Indies grew increasingly frustrated as the partnership extended deep into final session with the taking of the second new ball backfiring on them as 46 runs were taken off nine overs before the close.
India will be determined to retain a first innings lead when they take the field on Thursday.
The immediate breakthrough put the West Indies in complete command of proceedings as Ashwin came out to bat.
But Rahul later made amends when he ran out Johnson for 23 with a direct hit from mid-wicket. The batting collapse resulted in India being bowled for 353.
India tried to steady the ship with Lokesh Rahul and the recalled Sharma putting on 58 for the third wicket but opener Rahul – scenting a fourth century in his seventh Test appearance – fell immediately after reaching 50 when he chipped Roston Chase to Kraigg Brathwaite at short fine leg.
But West Indies could not claim the wicket it needed to get at the tail, as Ashwin and Saha batted cautiously for the first hour before upping the pace as the ball lost its shine.
For the first time, India’s No.6 and No.7 batsman combined to score centuries in the same innings. But it seemed the pitch had calmed down a bit since day one as there was not much bite in the West Indies’ bowling this morning.
The right-handed Ashwin survived two chances to strike four fours off 190 deliveries, while Saha, dropped on 20 by Leon Johnson at forward short leg off Chase, has faced 122 balls and counted four fours.
Advertisement
West Indies lacked objective and aggression in their effort on the second morning, in stark contrast to the opening session of the Test the previous day.
