6 Man of the Match awards for Ravichandran Ashwin in Tests – most by any India player since his debut in November 2011.
Advertisement
West Indies’ batsman Marlon Samuels kneels after he was bowled by India’s Ishant Sharma as India’s captain Virat Kohli, second from right, and Lokesh Rahul celebrate his dismissal during day five of their third cricket Test match at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in Gros Islet, St. Lucia, Saturday, Aug. 13.
India has one more Test match in the West Indies, with the fourth and final Test set to commence in Trinidad on Thursday.
The previous three series victories – 1971, 2006 and 2011 have been by an identical 1-0 margin.
The historic moment came when Shanon Gabriel’s slog was easily pouched by Bhuvneshwar at deep mid-wicket off Jadeja’s bowling.
An unbroken 85-run fourth-wicket partnership between Ajinkya Rahane (51 not-out) and Rohit Sharma (41 not-out) ensured India remained firmly in control despite losing early wickets in pursuit of quick runs.
The Indian team thrashed West Indies by 237 runs in the third Test to take a 2-0 lead in the series. Kumar bowled 10.4 overs on the trot and took 5/14 as the hosts lost their last six wickets for just 23 runs.
Chasing an imposing 346-run target on the fifth and final day of the match, the West Indies were bundled out for 108 in 47.3 overs during the post-lunch session. Jadeja, brought into the side in place of Mishra, tied one end up with an economy rate of 1.12 runs per over and forced the Caribbeans to play rash strokes at the other end.
“Bhuvneshwar Kumar was unbelievable in the afternoon – picking up 5 wickets for 28 runs on that wicket in 24 overs was a great spell”.
It allowed Bravo enough breathing space to complete his 15th Test fifty off 73 balls, but it was never going to be enough. Chasing a wide delivery from Alzarri Joseph, the wicketkeeper-batsman edged a catch to his West Indian counterpart Shane Dowrich to give the debutant fast bowler his third wicket of the innings.
But from Blackwood (20) then becoming Kumar’s first victim, things fell apart for Jason Holder’s team. Bravo got an inside edge off Shami and it lobbed into Sharma’s hands.
India finished day four at 157/3, and considering its first innings’ lead of 128 runs, it already has a sizeable total on the board.
Advertisement
Walking into the middle to draw the match or avert a defeat again, Windies openers Kraig Brathwaite and Leon Johnson found the going tough, as Shami and Kumar swung the ball both ways to unsettle them. Rohit Sharma plucked off a fearless catch at short-leg to send Leon Johnson back for a duck, and give India their opening. “I have a better chance to take wickets”, said Kumar after the day’s play.
