India entered Day 3 in a commanding position after declaring their first innings at 566 for 8. Hostile pace bowling spells from seamers Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav put India in a match-winning position against the Windies. The Indian seamers were aggressive in their intent and bowled attacking lines to unsettle the Windies batsman.
Shami making a comeback to test cricket after more than a year accounted for the West Indian top order by bending his back to get some steep bounce on a pretty flat track. Shami made inroads into the West Indies batting line-up, picking up four quick wickets.
Umesh Yadav then polished off the lower order with his quick pace and deceptive change of angles. Meanwhile, leg-spinner Amit Mishra played his part by scalping two wickets. Wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha had a brilliant day behind the stumps after being involved in six of the ten West Indian dismissals.
Also Read: Twitter Reactions - West Indies vs India 1st Test, Day 3
Kraigg Brathwaite by far was the standout batsman for the West Indies. He put up a masterclass display of defensive technique and calm temperament when the Indian seamers were all over the Windies batsman all through the day’s play.
Wicket-keeper batsman Shane Dowrich also put in a fight with his unbeaten half century. Meanwhile, Jason Holder gave the Windies a little bit to cheer about courtesy his entertaining knock of 36. However, the Caribbean outfit were forced to follow-on and Brathwaite’s wicket was picked up by Ishant Sharma in the first over itself.
Score (At the end of Day 3):
West Indies 243 (Kraigg Brathwaite 74, Shane Dowrich 57*) and Follow-on 21 /1 trail India (566 for 8 declared) by 302 runs with 9 wickets remaining
Match Venue: Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua
Time: 7:30 pm IST
West Indies Playing XI - KC Brathwaite, R Chandrika, DM Bravo, MN Samuels, J Blackwood, RL Chase, SO Dowrich (Wicket-keeper), CR Brathwaite, JO Holder (Captain), D Bishoo, ST Gabriel
Indian Playing XI - M Vijay, S Dhawan, CA Pujara, V Kohli (Captain), AM Rahane, WP Saha (Wicket-keeper), R Ashwin, A Mishra, I Sharma, M Shami, UT Yadav
Live Streaming:
The match can be viewed live on TV on Ten Cricket.
West Indies vs India will be streamed live on Tensports.com.
Day 3 Summary:
After opener Kraigg Brathwaite and night-watchman Devendra Bishoo put in a stiff resistance in the morning session, Amit Mishra broke their stand by getting Bishoo stumped by keeper Saha. There was a lot of expectation from talented batsman Darren Bravo who has a penchant for the Indian bowling in the past.
Bravo, however, disappointed after he fell early by edging a steep bouncer from pacer Mohammed Shami to the keeper Saha .
Post Lunch Session:
Marlon Samuels, who had been short of test runs once again perished by edging a Mohammed Shami delivery which straightened after landing at the perfect spot. Shami was again in the thick of action when he bowled a ripper of a delivery to get rid of Jermaine Blackwood for a duck.
One has to give credit to the way Kraigg Brathwaite put up a dodged defence after seeing wickets fall at regular intervals on the other end.
Debutant Roston Chase came into the crease and accelerated the scoring rate with some attacking stroke play. Chase and Brathwaite put in a spirited fight by forging a 47 run partnership for the 6th wicket. However, Chase saw his end when he pulled a shot delivery from Yadav straight to Indian skipper Virat Kohli.
Umesh Yadav angled in a bouncer wide of the crease that saw Brathwaite fending the rising delivery off his gloves to wicketkeeper Saha.
Post Tea Session:
After Brathwaite’s wicket, wicket-keeper batsman Shane Dowrich held the innings together by scoring his second half century in test cricket. Dowrich forged a valuable 69 run partnership with skipper Jason Holder for the 8th wicket.
He remained unbeaten on 57 but could not prevent West Indies from avoiding a follow-on. Skipper Jason Holder provided some entertainment in the last session with his attacking knock of 36, laden with some well-struck boundaries.
Umesh Yadav then cleaned up the tail by getting Jason Holder and Carlos Brathwaite off successive deliveries. Dowrich delayed the inevitable by stringing a last wicket 30 run partnership with Shannon Gabriel, before Amit Mishra clean bowled Gabriel.
The Indian skipper imposed the follow-on the West Indians with 13 overs left in the day. Seamer Ishant Sharma rewarded his captain by trapping first innings top scorer Kraigg Brathwaite leg before with an in-swinger. Darren Bravo and Rajendra Chandrika were at the crease at stumps on Day 3.
Day 4
What lies in Store?
India are in with a big chance to win the match after imposing a follow-on to the West Indies. The Indian bowling attack looked potent with their bowlers extracting a lot out of a slow Antigua wicket.
As we get into Day 4, the Indian spinners shall surely play an instrumental role in exploiting the cracks and low bounce on the wicket. The Indians sense a victory on the cards against a shaky Windies batting and would like to seal the game by today itself, thereby not extending the match to the final day.
West Indies have made it rather difficult for themselves after being bowled out for paltry first innings score and being imposed the follow-on. The Windies batsman except Kraigg Brathwaite looked all at sea against the Indian pacers and found it tough to negotiate the spin.
It would take an enormous effort for the West Indies batsmen to pave their way back into the game. One of the senior players will have to play a match saving innings to give them some chance of saving the match.
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