Indians building big lead

DESPITE PUTTING in a fair bowling performance, the West Indies were not clinical enough to make any serious inroads in the Indian batting line-up, and at the end of the second day of the second Royal Stag Test at Sabina Park yesterday, the home team continues to lag well behind.

Resuming the day in a comfortable position of 126 for one, India went on to close on 358 for five in their first innings. They now have an overall lead of 162 after the West Indies, on day one, were dismissed for 196.

Led by quickie Shannon Gabriel, who continues to show steady improvement, the West Indies bowled well in the second and third sessions of the day, and while they did not have a lot of wickets to show for their efforts the Indians were not allowed to rapidly build a huge total.

Behind a third career century from opener Lokesh Rahul, in what is his sixth Test appearance, the Indians were 185 for one at lunch.

However, courtesy of more purposeful captaincy from Jason Holder and steady bowling from Gabriel and Chase they were kept in check somewhat, stopping at 259 for two at tea after scoring 64 runs.

The wicket that fell during that period was that of Chesteshwar Pujara, who was spectacularly run out by Chase running in from cover. Pujara made 46.

However, if the second session was somewhat even, the third clearly belonged to the West Indies, who claimed another three wickets.

These included the dismissals of the steady Rahul, inspirational captain Virat Kohli, and off-spinner Ravi Ashwin.

The first of the trio to be dismissed was Rahul, who, in attempting to fend off a short ball from Gabriel, only succeeded to edge to wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich for 158.

His innings, which was much about poise as it was about temperament, included 15 fours and three sixes, one of which brought up his century earlier in the day.

Kohli, whose double ton was the main cornerstone of the India only innings in the first Test, was next to go when, playing down the wrong line, he was caught at bat pad for 44 by Rajendra Chandrika off a sharp-turning delivery from Chase.

FLIGHTED DELIVERY

Ashwin, in the meantime, whose three Test centuries have come against the West Indies, was adjudged leg before wicket for three after he missed a flighted delivery from leg-spinner Davendra Bishoo and was hit plumb in front.

Batsman Ajinka Rahane, 42, and wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, 17, are set to resume batting today at 10 a.m.

“I would say they won the first session, and second session was a bit even, but I would give us the edge in the last session,’’ said Chase, who made his debut in the first Test.

"We now need to come tomorrow and work hard to take the remaining wickets and try to take it from there.’’

SCOREBOARD

WEST INDIES 1st Innings 196

INDIA 1st Innings

(overnight 126 for one)

K.L. Rahul c wkp Dowrich b Gabriel 158

S. Dhawan c Bravo b Chase 27

C. Pujara run out 46

*V. Kohli c Chandrika b Chase 44

A. Rahane not out 42

R Ashwin lbw b Bishoo 3

+W. Saha not out 17

Extras (b8, lb1, w5, nb7) 21

TOTAL (5 wkts, 125 overs) 358

Fall of wickets: 1-87, 2-208, 3-277, 4-310, 5-327.

To bat: A Mishra, Mohammed Shami, I Sharma, U Yadav.

Bowling: Gabriel 23-8-50-1 (nb5), Cummins 15.4-3-54-0, Holder 23.2-9-49-0, Chase 29-3-91-2, Bishoo 25-3-79-1, Brathwaite 9-0-26-0.

Position: India lead by 162 runs with five first innings wickets intact.

Toss: West Indies.

Umpires: Aleem Dar, I Gould; TV – N Duguid.