KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – West Indies were facing a pivotal third day of the second Test against India after opener Lokesh Rahul struck his third Test century to help the tourists tighten their grip on the contest at Sabina Park here Sunday.
The hosts managed just four wickets on Sunday’s second day as India marched to 358 for five at the close – a lead of 162 runs. It already represents a mountain to climb for West Indies who were bundled out for 196 in their first innings.
Rahul, unbeaten on 75 at the start, carved out 158 – the third time he has reached triple figures in his fledgling six-Test career. He faced 303 balls and counted 15 boundaries and three sixes.
Cheteshwar Pujara stroked 46, captain Virat Kohli gathered 44 while Ajinkya Rahane ended unbeaten on 42, to further exacerbate the Windies’ frustration on a day of toil with little reward.Part-time off-spinner Roston Chase proved West Indies’ most successful bowler with two for 91.
Resuming the day on 126 for one, India made slow progress in the first hour, adding just 22 runs in 13 overs, with Rahul and Pujara untroubled by the Windies attack.
Rahul entered the 90s quietly but spent little time there, punching Chase to the mid-off boundary in one over before clearing the long-on boundary in the bowler’s next over, to reach his landmark about half-hour before lunch, to be not out on 107 at the interval.
Pujara, meanwhile, unbeaten on 18 at the start, reached the break on 37 as India added only 59 in the session to reach lunch on 185 without further loss.
The pair extended their second wicket partnership to 121 before being separated, when Pujara was run out just short of his half-century, about 45 minutes after lunch.
He clipped pacer and captain Jason Holder square on the onside and took off for a single but failed to beat Chase’s direct hit at the non-striker’s end.
Any hopes the Windies had of capitalizing on this breakthrough were quickly dashed as Rahul plodded on in a 69-run stand with Kohli, to see India to tea without further loss at 259 for two.
Looking at complete ease against a non-threatening West Indies attack, Rahul pushed on nicely, caressing Holder to the mid-off boundary and lifting leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo over long on for six, several overs later.
Unbeaten on 150 at tea, Rahul perished in the fifth over after the break, feathering a leg-side catch through to wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich, at 277 for three.
Kohli, who faced 90 balls and counted four fours and a six, appeared to be getting into stride when he fell on the stroke of the hour.
He had just punished Bishoo with a leg-side six and two boundaries to mid-wicket in the first over of a new spell which leaked 16 runs, when he turned an ordinary delivery from Chase into Rajendra Chandrika’s waiting hands at short leg.
Ravi Ashwin, with a hundred behind him in the opening Test week, failed to have any impact this time around as he was trapped lbw for three by a full length delivery from Bishoo.
Rahane, who has faced 87 balls and struck six fours and a six – a beautiful straight hit off Chase – kept the scoreboard ticking over in a 31-run, unbroken sixth wicket partnership with wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, who was unbeaten on 17 at the close.
