Debasis Sen, Gros Islet: Ravichandran Ashwin and Wriddhiman Saha struck brilliant centuries to put India in commanding position against West Indies on the second day of the third Test at St Lucia. India posted a commanding total of 353 runs in the first innings after being 126/5 at one stage on Day 1.
Saha brought up his maiden Test ton as he hit Roston Chase for two runs. He became only the second wicketkeeper batsman from Bengal after Deep Dasgupta to score a test ton. On the other hand, it was Ashwin’s fourth Test ton and second on this tour. They stitched together a 213-run partnership for the sixth wicket before the wicket-keeper batsman fell after scoring 104. It eclipsed the previous highest sixth wicket partnership against West Indies held by Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri in Chennai in 1983. They put on 173 runs then for the sixth wicket.
At lunch, Ashwin was unbeaten on 99 runs (257 balls, 5 fours) while Saha was batting on 93* (208 balls, 12 fours) as they took their side to relative safety.
Starting at the overnight score of 234/5, the two batsmen once again looked sturdy and intent to play for time. The ball was still new, as Alzarri Joseph (2-54) and Shannon Gabriel (1-82) started off proceedings. But it seemed the pitch had calmed down a bit since day one as there was not much bite in the West Indies’ bowling this second morning.
First up then, Saha got to his 3rd Test half-century off 135 balls, and thereafter India’s 250-mark came up in the 97th over. But the two batsmen were still not looking to get on with the scoring rate as they looked to settle down and play a long innings that would give their team the upper hand once again. They were helped in this endeavour by some wayward bowling from Miguel Cummins (0-54) and Gabriel, while skipper Jason Holder (0-34) himself wasn’t too penetrative either.
Roston Chase (2-50) meanwhile persisted with his leg-stump line, bowling to a predominantly leg-side field to Ashwin, and thus looking to dry up the runs. The two batsmen didn’t mind as only 21 runs came in the first hour of play spanning 13 overs. However in the second hour of this morning session, the scoring rate finally picked up a bit as a more-confident Saha played some fine shots.
He wasn’t too aggressive, but looked positive against the pacers and looked to attack Chase whenever possible, as he quickly caught up in the nervous 90s with his teammate.
Ashwin though was dropped on 92*, as he hit Chase straight to Leon Johnson at short leg in the 110th over. Thereafter he lingered on quite a bit, especially on 99*, and it helped bring up the 150-mark of the duo’s partnership off 358 deliveries. Previously, the Indian 300-mark had also come up in the 113th over.
Saha’s eagerness meant that 51 runs came off the last 10 overs going into the lunch break, a second session without any loss of wickets for India. But neither of the two batsmen could then go on to score their respective hundreds surprisingly enough, even as 82 runs came in this morning session.
On day one, West Indies won the toss and elected to field. India were reduced to 130/5 at one stage, after which Ashwin-Saha rescued the innings with an unbeaten century stand.
India lead the four-match series 1-0, after winning the first Test in Antigua by an innings and 92 runs. The second Test in Jamaica was drawn.