R Ashwin (top) batted with application to post his fourth century against West Indies. His partner at the other end Saha is playing on 96* as India proceeded ahead of their total of 316/6 at lunch.
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After the top order left in the first two sessions of the day scoring 126 in 50 overs, Ashwin and Saha defied the combo attack by defending the wicket to build the innings from where Rahane left.
West Indies rallied well after conceding a pair of centuries to India’s middle order batsmen on day two of the third Test in St Lucia.
Bowling: Gabriel 16-2-68-1 (nb5), Joseph 14-3-38-2, Cummins 14-5-36-0 (w1), Holder 15-6-27-0, Chase 23-8-38-2, Brathwaite 8-1-20-0.
At lunch on day one, the Indian batsmen have put up 87 runs for the loss of three wickets.
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. Saha went for a drive off an over-pitched delivery from Alzarri Joseph but ended up nicking it to wicketkeeper Dowrich.
In contrast, Saha accelerated his innings while his partner was becalmed to be unbeaten on 93, already his best effort in Test cricket and within sight of a maiden hundred in this format of the game.
Among the bowlers, Miguel Cummins finished with 3-54, a haul that included Ashwin’s wicket after the batsman completed his second century of the series, Joseph took 3-69, and Shannon Gabriel and Roston Chase chipped in with two wickets apiece. The batting collapse resulted in India being bowled for 353.
Saha, whose ton included 13 fours, edged a full ball from Joseph through to Dowrich and the lengthy partnership was broken. With pace trio Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami and Umesh Yadav contributing in both the matches, except the final day of the second Test, it is most likely that the combination will not be changed.
The 24-year-old Rahul continued with his brilliant form from the second Test at Kingston in Jamaica where he scored 158 in 303 balls, with 15 boundaries and three sixes.
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Miguel 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. He was dropped by Leon Johnson at short leg of Chase and was caught off a no-ball bowled by Gabriel. West Indies won the toss and utilised the conditions efficiently without being sensational, but India helped them out with their selections.
