THE West Indies began a spirited response to India’s first innings score of 353 by close of play on the second day of their Third Test match at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground here yesterday.
The West Indies had reached 107 for the loss of the wicket of opener Leon Johnson.
Kraigg Brathwaite and Johnson gave the West Indies a solid start , posting 59 before being parted by the run out route, Johnson going for 23 off 75 balls. But Brathwaite found a good partner in Darren Bravo and the pair took the score to 107 at the close without further loss.
In the process Brathwaite spent three hours at the crease and was undefeated at the close with 53. Bravo is on 18.
Earlier India had benefitted from a sixth wicket partnership between Ashwin and Saha which added 213 runs to rescue the visitors after losing half the side for 126.. Ashwin scored his second century of this series, and Saha batted his way to a maiden Test century. Together they brought India out of trouble to post a good first innings score.
Ashwin hit 118 in 297 minutes with just six fours and a six while Saha knocked up 104 in 227 minutes with 13 boundaries.
Their long stand was broken when Saha edged a full ball from Alzarri Joseph through to Shane Dowrich. Then the West Indies pace attack charged at the tail with renewed vigour.
Having waited 281 balls for his first Test wicket, Miguel Cummins took three in ten balls, RavindraJadeja for 6 following an angling delivery, Ashwin 118 and Ishant Sharma 0 fending at awkward short balls. In between the Cummins carnage, Shannon Gabriel came back to get a much-deserved second wicket, Bhuvneshwar Kumar caught at short leg by Leon Johnson for 0.
Bowling for the West Indies Miguel Cummings had 3 for 54, Alzarri Joseph (debutant) 3 for 69, Roston Chase 2 for 70 and Shannon Gabriel 2 for 84.