Ashwin, who made a hundred in the opening Test in Antigua a fortnight ago, was also put down on 26 by Johnson at short leg off Chase and was given a second life on 35 – just 25 minutes later – when he was caught at point by Chase off a back-foot no-ball by Gabriel, at 145 for five.
Advertisement
Earlier, India made three changes to the team that drew the second test, number five batsman Rohit Sharma coming in for Cheteshwar Pujara, spinner Ravindra Jadeja replacing Amit Mishra and paceman Bhuvneshwar Kumar preferred to Umesh Yadav.
While this apparent push for quick runs resulted in a batting failure, West Indies were not behind in making unusual moves.
Cummins went wicket-less in his maiden Test in Jamaica, and bowled 281 deliveries before picking up his first wicket in global cricket, that of Ravindra Jadeja.
India’s Wriddhiman Saha raises the bat to celebrate his half century during the second day of their first test cricket match against Sri Lanka in Galle, August 13, 2015.
Chase was the hero for the West Indies in the previous match, taking five wickets in India’s only innings and leading the last day recovery with an unbeaten century to become just the fourth West Indian and first since Garfield Sobers in 1966 to accomplish the all-round feat.
The duo added 213 runs for the sixth wicket before Saha was dismissed by Alzarri Joseph a couple of deliveries after he had creamed a boundary.
This partnership propelled India to 353 runs in their first innings, but West Indies staged a comeback with the bat to end the second day on 107 for one with Kraigg Brathwaite unbeaten on 53. Excluding West Indies, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, all other teams have averaged more than 40 in this period from the No. 3 position.
Starting the day with a flurry of short balls outside the batsman’s arc, West Indies didn’t make use of the semi-new ball on offer.
The West Indies, with their morale boosted after securing a dramatic draw in second Test, bowled with objective to put the opposition under pressure. It was the first time the West Indies’ openers had crossed this mark in the Test series so far.
India’s Wriddhiman Saha plays a shot from the bowling of West Indies’ Shannon Gabriel during day two of their third cricket Test match at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in Gros Islet, St. Lucia, Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016.
Advertisement
India were in all sorts of trouble then, but Rahul added 58 runs for the third wicket with Rahane who came in at no.4. Ashwin had spent 14 deliveries on 99*, but finally broke free and smacked Roston Chase (2-70) over midwicket for a six to reach his fourth Test hundred, off 265 balls, and indeed his fourth against the same opposition.
