GROS ISLET, ST. LUCIA:
West Indies
fought back with panache to push India back in the third Test here on Wednesday. On the second day of Test, the hosts were all at sea in the first half of the day as R Ashwin and
Wriddhiman Saha extended their overnight stand for the sixth wicket to a massive 213 runs.
But once Saha was dismissed after lunch, West Indies took little time in wrapping up the Indian tail. In response to India's 353, West Indies were 107 for one at close of play, 246 behind the visitors and very much in the game.
Kraigg Brathwaite was batting on 53 while
Darren Bravo, trying hard to get out of a form rut, was unbeaten on a sedate 18.
The only wicket West Indies have lost was that of opener
Leon Johnson. He was given a reprieve at four when
KL Rahul failed to latch on to a snick off
Mohammed Shami at second slip. Rahul, however, made amends when his brilliant throw from shot mid-wicket to the non-striker's end caught Johnson short. The batsman was on 23 and the team's total 59.
Earlier, Ashwin made 118 (297 balls,6x4, 1x6) and Saha, easily the star of the first session of Day Three, notched up his maiden hundred. Saha made an invaluable 104 (227 balls, 13x4).
West Indies must be dreading the sight of Ashwin now. If he has been a scourge with the ball for them, he has been an immovable wall with the bat.
On Wednesday, he completed his second century of the series and his fourth against the Caribbeans 10 minutes after lunch. Ashwin spent an anxious period at 99 before launching Roston Chase over the midwicket fence for a six to reach the landmark in 265 balls.
Saha joined the centurion club about 15 minutes later when he square-drove Chase to reach his maiden ton. He took 223 balls to reach the milestone.
Both Ashwin and Saha showed admirable application on a pitch where run-making continued to be arduous. The ultra-slow outfield meant there were few boundaries but several twos and threes. Running all those runs in the heat and humidity here was an energy-sapping exercise. But the two kept rolling on.
Saha was easily the more adventurous batsman on the day. His defence was compact and as he grew in confidence, Saha's strokeplay became increasingly adventurous and authoritative. He understood the need for quick runs and looked to even hit the ball in the air once in a while. He also played the shot of the morning, a delectable flick off Miguel Cummins which sped to the square-leg fence. In the same over, he also hooked Cummins for another boundary as India looked more and more in control.
Ashwin was as sedate as he was on Tuesday, letting Saha take care of getting the boundaries. In fact, he struck just one four in the entire session which came off the 60th ball he had faced in the morning. It took him to 99.
There still was considerable bounce in the pitch but both Ashwin and Saha tackled it well. In the first hour, only 21 runs came off 13 overs. The second hour yielded as many as 61 as Saha cut loose.
After Saha's dismissal, India collapsed. They lost their last five wickets for only 14 to let West Indies back into the game.
Ashwin did enjoy the fortune of the brave in this innings. He was caught off a no ball on Tuesday when on 36 and a few snicks either didn't go to the fielders or did not stick. To his great credit, he has soldiered on with commendable application which has become the hallmark of his batting in the series.
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