West Indies fold for 196; Ashwin, Rahul key performer for India

At the end of day's play, the Indian batsmen have put on 126 runs on the board for the loss of one wicket.

The home side lost four wickets in the morning session after their skipper, Jason Holder, decided to bat first on a track that aided the faster bowlers.

Ishant Sharma and Mohammad Shami bagged two and one wicket respectively in the first session to leave the Caribbean top order dented, as they slipped into a precarious 7 runs for the loss of 3 wickets, before a counter attacking play from Jermaine Blackwood brought back the smile on their faces.

Blackwood tonked a couple of sixes and a handful of boundaries to score a breezy half century. His run a ball innings of 62 was primarily the reason why the hosts had some runs to show in the pre-lunch session. He departed minutes before the lunch interval, trapped in front by Ashwin, the first of the spinner's five preys.

After the session resumed, rain forced the players to stay indoors, but once it started it brought with it the Caribbean parade. From 88 runs for the loss of 4 wickets, West Indies were reduced to 158 runs for the loss of 9 wickets.

A late surge from the last pair added 38 runs. Debutant Miguel Cummins (24) and Shannon Gabriel (15) played freely and hit boundaries and sixes at will to score briskly, before the latter was dismissed by Amit Mishra.

For India, Ishant and Shami picked up a brace each, aided by Ashwin's five-for and Mishra's single claim.

Starting their innings, the Indian opening pair of KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan played sensibly to add 87 runs inside the 20th over, before Dhawan fell for 27.

Rahul continued his prolific run as the Karnataka batsman hit yet another half-century.

He is unbeaten at 75 runs. Cheteshwar Pujara, who joined him at the crease, is unbeaten at 18 runs.

For West Indies, Roston Chase accounted for Dhawan's scalp.


(Written By Sudipto Maity)

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