(CMC) – Under-pressure West Indies were facing a difficult task in saving the second Test and avoiding a series sweep, after India dominated yesterday’s penultimate day at Queen’s Park Oval.
Set an improbable target of 365, the home side reached the close on 76 for two, still requiring a further 289 today in order to level the series.
Left-handed opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul was unbeaten on 24 and was partnered by Vice-captain Jermaine Blackwood on 20, the pair having so far added 32 in an unbroken third wicket stand.
Any chance West Indies had of really pushing India vanished inside the first hour when they lost their last five wickets for 26 runs to be all out for 255, after resuming from their overnight 229 for five.
Left-hander Alick Athanaze failed to add to his overnight 37 as seamer Mohammed Siraj picked up four of the wickets to tumble, to end with five for 60.
Still behind by 209 runs overnight, West Indies had the worst possible start when the 24-year-old Athanaze perished to the fourth ball of the morning, lbw to debutant seamer Mukesh Kumar (2-48).
In the very next over, all-rounder Jason Holder nicked Siraj behind for 15 after adding only four to his overnight score, and suddenly West Indies were reeling at 233 for seven.
There was no recovery, however, as an inspired Siraj hit Alzarri Joseph (4) in front, had Kemar Roach (4) caught at the wicket and then also trapped Shannon Gabriel lbw without scoring.
Conceding a first innings lead of 183 runs, West Indies were then put to the sword as India raced to 181 for two in their second innings, before declaring 40 minutes after tea.
Left with an hour-and-a-half before lunch, captain Rohit Sharma belted 57 from 44 balls in a 98-run opening stand off just 71 deliveries with Yashasvi Jaiswal who made 38.
Rohit counted five fours and three sixes before miscuing a pull at Gabriel to fine leg where Joseph pouched a simple catch in the final over before lunch.
Rain limited the second session to just three overs but it was enough time for Jaiswal, unbeaten on 37 at the break, to top-edge a slog at left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican to be taken by wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva running back.
But it was the first 40 minutes of the final session where the fireworks occurred, Ishan Kishan blasting an unbeaten 52 from 34 deliveries and Shubman Gill, 29 not out off 37 balls, the pair posting 79 in an unbroken third wicket stand.
The left-handed Ishan lashed four fours and two sixes to ensure India added a hasty 63 in the nine overs after tea, which had been taken early at 118 for two due to showers.
Staring at a tall order, West Indies were given a sound start by captain Kraigg Brathwaite who played positively for his 28 from 52 deliveries, in a 38-run opening stand with Chanderpaul.
Brathwaite counted five fours inclusive of a couple of attractive off-side drives before top-edging a sweep at off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (2-33) and falling to a catch at backward square.
Debutant left-hander Kirk McKenzie then failed to score, playing down the wrong line to Ashwin and falling lbw, leaving the Caribbean side with their backs to the wall on 44 for two.
Chanderpaul remained compact, however, and has so far faced 98 balls and struck two fours while Blackwood played freely in a knock which has lasted 39 balls and included two fours.