India sit atop massive lead as rain delays West Indies' fate
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Ajinkya Rahane scored his seventh Test century to build on KL Rahul's ton as India declared after reaching a comfortable 500 runs at the end of day 3 in the second Test against West Indies. Roston Chase's five-fer was the only bright spot for the Windies who now face an impossible lead of 304 runs.
West Indies 196 and 0 for 0; India 500 for 9 decl. (Rahul 158, Rahane 108*, Chase 5-121) by 304 runs
Starting from their overnight score of 358, Rahane and wicketkeeper Saha worked through the West Indies bowling. Keeping up with the pattern of one set batsman holding the fort for India, it was Rahane who kept his spot. Saha departed for 47 runs eventually, three short of his half-century and two short of a century partnership with Rahane. However, Rahane stitched up another partnership with Amit Mishra before Roston Chase dismissed the leggie and Mohammad Shami off successive balls. In between, rain had played spoilsport and shaved off almost an hour of play after lunch.
With only 10th man Umesh Yadav for company, Rahane played on cornering the majority of the balls. West Indies, meanwhile, had put on a defensive formation in an effort to make India eke out every single run – it appeared a good strategy given India would not declare until Rahane's century and that rain clouds threatened to break over any minute.
Rahane reached his century funnily enough with some luck. The batsman edged a Roston Chase delivery that did not turn and the ball found its way to the left of the first slip and on to the ropes. That was Rahane's seventh Test hundred and his sixth against a different Test nation – he has centuries now against Australia, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, England, South Africa and West Indies.
After his century, the duo broke free with sixes and fours suddenly raining when heavy rains were what were forecast. But that spell lasted all too briefly as Umesh Yadav was dismissed by Roston as the spinner reached his maiden five-fer in only his second Test. As if he was waiting only for Roston's feat, Kohli declared the Indian innings bang on 500 runs with Rahane not out at 108.
However, India's hopes of a short go at the West Indies top order did not materialize as rain stopped play before even a ball was bowled in the second innings. Credible signs of a tropical storm loom large over the match as rain threatens to spoil India's party with a possible wash-out or at the least, loss of significant overs on the fourth and fifth day.
