The previous highest by an India opener in his first Test innings in West Indies was 96 by Ajay Jadeja in 1996-97. India is trailing by a mere 11 runs after bowling out the hosts for just 196 in their first innings.
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Earlier, West Indies skipper Jason Holder won the toss and elected to bat in the second Test against India at the Sabina Park. Seamers Mohammed Shami (2-23) and Ishant (2-53) provided the support.
He hinted at a significant acceleration of scoring with two more sixes at the start of the afternoon session, but once again remained restrained and disciplined in continuing to grind out the runs at the expense of a limited and tiring West Indies attack.
Only 59 runs were added from the overnight position, extending the second-wicket partnership between Rahul and Pujara to 98, but none off the bowlers were able to make the much-needed breakthrough.
Blackwood scored a counter-attacking run-a-ball 62, and his partnership with Marlon Samuels helped West Indies counter the Indian bowling after they had been reduced to 7/3. Vijay had a sore finger from which he failed to recover in time.
But the 24-year-old is keen to develop into a more consistent player, with his previous 10 Test innings including eight scores of under 17. This is the second time I am playing for the West Indies in front of them.
He was off the mark with a slash over point of Shami off the fifth ball he faced and tore into Ishant in the right-armer’s sixth over, driving the first ball to the mid-off boundary, smashing the next legitimate delivery for a straight six before cutting the fifth ball to the point boundary, in an over that leaked 15 runs.
With lunch beckoning, he perished to a marginal lbw decision off Ashwin, three balls before the break.
Samuels (14) and Roston Chase were at the crease when the umpires called for lunch.
Ashwin followed up his haul of seven for 83 in the final innings of the first Test a week earlier with five for 52 on a pitch offering turn and bounce from the very first session of play.
Wickets then tumbled steadily as West Indies went into terminal decline. For a spinner to pick up five wickets on the first day and put his team in charge was a matter of pride to Ashwin.
Fall of wicket: 1-87.
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India could score only 232 runs in the 88 overs bowled on the second day to finish at 358/5 at stumps and Simmons said he could see a lot of improvement in his bowlers.
