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Rain hits third day after overnight Windies fightback
GROS ISLET, ST. LUCIA: Heavy overnight rain followed by consistent drizzle washed out the first session’s play on the third day of the third Test between India and
GROS ISLET, ST. LUCIA: Heavy overnight rain followed by consistent drizzle washed out the first session’s play on the third day of the third Test between India and West Indies here. If the forecast is to be believed, the rain is due to a tropical depression that will last at least another 12 hours. If that happens no play could happen for at least two more sessions and this Test could progress towards a draw given West Indies’ strong finish on Wednesday.
The rain so far seems to be an ally for West Indies. It bailed them out in the Kingston Test when they lost four quick wickets. And now it seems set to make this Test a four-day affair, meaning they won’t have the added pressure to play out time. India though would feel disappointed at not being given the chance to amend their bowling tactics. For the first time in this series, West Indies have looked better at exploiting the bowling conditions than India. By coming up with an equally commendable batting performance, they have ensured this Test isn’t as one-sided an affair.
On the second day, R Ashwin and Wriddhiman Saha went on to add 213 runs for the sixth wicket but like all good partnerships, this too had to end. India though had still not learnt their lessons. Saha departed after edging Alzarri Joseph to the wicket-keeper but instead of giving support to Ashwin and consolidating the lead, new batsman Ravindra Jadeja tried to stand and deliver and managed only a thick edge to the wicketkeeper. Having waited 281 deliveries for his first international wicket, Miguel Cummins then knocked over Ashwin and Ishant Sharma after Shannon Gabriel dismissed Bhuvneshwar Kumar to bring a quick end to their prolonged misery.
India’s last five wickets were dismissed for just 14 runs, and the whole team --- apart from Ashwin and Saha --- scored only 140 out of their first innings of 353. Turning the tide so unexpectedly, West Indies also made a statement by scoring 107/1, their best start in this series. India’ s bowling strategy helped them to some extent.
With the new ball shared by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami, India denied themselves the natural bounce of Shar ma on a pitch that had carry. To add to their worries, Shami induced an edge off Kraigg Brathwaite that dropped short before KL Rahul failed to hold on to a chance at slip.
