India vs West Indies, 2nd Test: Rain wipes out final session, India lead by 304 runs at stumps

The final session on day three of the second Test was washed off due to rain after Ajinkya Rahane helped India gain a first innings lead of 304 runs and pile more pressure on the struggling West Indies unit.

Rahane (108*) carved out his seventh Test hundred to strengthen India’s hold on the game as the visitors declared their innings at 500 for nine in response to West Indies’ 196.

Rahane’s gritty century was followed by the declaration in the post lunch session but intermittent rain ensured not a single ball was bowled for the remainder of the day.

Early tea was called after a second rain interruption. Post lunch, Amit Mishra (21) had joined Rahane and the leg spinner looked for some quick runs, smacking Devendra Bishoo (1-107) for six. The pacers were brought on almost immediately to block any plans of quick scoring on part of the batsmen.  Even so, the 450-mark came up in the 161st over, as also the 250-lead. Thereafter, rain came down, as the threat of tropical storm Earl still looms large on the match.

After an hour, the game restarted with just about 25 minutes to play until tea. In this interim, West Indies got a couple quick wickets, as Roston Chase (5-121) removed Mishra, caught at short leg, and then bowled Mohammed Shami (0) first ball. Yadav avoided the hat trick, even as Rahane tried to speed up to his hundred, smacking Chase for a six.

The session had been extended, as Kraigg Brathwaite (0-40) came on to bowl, and both Rahane and Yadav went in for quick runs. In doing so, the Indian vice-captain completed his hundred off 231 balls. The latter though was out, hitting the ball high in the air and was caught at short midwicket, as Chase completed his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket.India declared their innings closed thereafter, leaving about 40 minutes for the West Indies to play out before the break, but rain intervened again and an early tea was taken.

In the morning, the hosts had come out firing on the morning of day three, as Jason Holder (1-72) troubled both Rahane and Wriddhiman Saha (47).

Starting from overnight 358/5, they looked to get settled in and push the lead as further as possible, while keeping in the possibility of rain later in the match as a tropical storm builds up in the Caribbean Sea. The day started bright and sunny though, and Rahane quickly got to his Test fifty off 93 balls. Thereafter, the 50-partnership for the sixth wicket came up off 116 deliveries.