West Indies make India toil on rain-hit Day 3

Team India were made to grind on a rain-hit day three of the second Test in Port of Spain as the West Indies batters’ displayed admirable patience on a sluggish pitch at the Queen’s Park Oval. Led by Kraigg Brathwaite’s 75 off 235 deliveries, the hosts finished the day on 229 for 5, cutting down India’s lead to 209 runs at stumps to put themselves in a strong position of holding out for a draw.

The game drifted at a snail’s pace for most of day three in Trinidad as the West Indies scored just 143 runs in the 67 overs bowled, showing considerable restraint to keep the Indian bowlers at bay. The hosts resumed the morning on 86 for 1, but only 10.4 overs were delivered in the first session before rain arrived to call for an early Lunch.

The visitors did manage to prise one wicket before the heavens opened, with debutant Mukesh Kumar picking up his maiden wicket in Test cricket. The Bengal seamer bowled testing lines throughout his first spell and got his reward with the wicket of Kirk McKenzie, who edged behind on 32.

Kraig Brathwaite got to his second-slowest Test half-century once play resumed in the afternoon, taking 170 balls to get to the landmark. Barring a hooked six from Brathwaite, there were precious few highlights throughout the second session as Brathwaite and Blackwood resisted the Indian attack with their patient defence.

Ravichandran Ashwin finally ended the 40-run stand with a ripping off-break that bested the West Indies captain, getting the ball to turn viciously and sneak through the gap between bat and pad. Blackwood and Athanaze continued West Indies’ vigil through the extended session before India struck shortly after Tea. Ravindra Jadeja found Blackwood’s outside edge from over the wicket and Ajinkya Rahane took a stunning one-handed catch at first slip diving to his right to remove the number four.

India picked up another soon after as Mohammed Siraj castled Joshua de Silva with one that tailed in sharply, ending the wicketkeeper’s stay on 10. Just like the first session, the rain arrived just on the stroke of a wicket, further delaying the proceedings. The game resumed after a small delay, but West Indies managed to remain unscathed for the rest of the day till bad light intervened, with Jason Holder partnering Alick Athanaze to take the hosts to 229 for 5.