West Indies v India, 1st Test, Day 3 - 5 Memorable Moments

After dominating the hosts with the bat, the Indians came back in the 2nd innings to fold West Indies for just 243 and enforce a follow-on. Fast bowlers Mohammad Shami and Umesh Yadav did the most of the damage, sharing eight wickets between them. Apart from Kraigg Brathwaite, Shane Dowrich, and Jason Holder, none of the batsmen could show any intent to stay at the crease. India, at the moment, is undoubtedly the favourites to win the game. Things would get much easier and the visitors can wrap up the first Test inside four days if Shami and Yadav perform in the same way they did on day three.

1.Kraigg Brathwaite – The lone fighter:

Kraigg Brathwaite added weight to his reputation of being a fighter with his superb 74 runs knock. Wickets kept fall around him but he stood at the other end like a rock and kept the scoreboard moving He did the bulk of the scoring during his stay at the crease. The fact that he had scored more than half of the amount of runs out of the West Indies total of 144 at the time of his departure in the 68th over speaks for it. The marathon knock which in a way saved West Indies from a deeper misery lasted 218 balls.

2. Mohammad Shami topples the middle order:

Mohammad Shami looked in fine form. The fast bowler looked almost unplayable as the day progressed. After giving India an early breakthrough in the form of Rajendra Chandrika before the end of day two, Shami, after a slow start to the new day, dismantled the Windies middle order comprising of Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels and Jermaine Blackwood in short successions and put the hosts in a state of bother. He ended the day with outstanding figures of 4/41.

3. Yadav speeds up the wrap-up process:

Umesh Yadav looked like a very different bowler. He swung the ball greatly at nippy pace and played perfect partner to Shami. After Shami wrecked the middle order, Yadav also joined the party and snapped 4/ 44 to rattle the Windies lower middle order. His first wicket was of the adamant Roston Chase. Withings a matter of an over, he brought delight to Indian faces after he managed to get better of the only batsman who was challenging the Indian bowlers – Kraigg Brathwaite. Shannon Gabriel and Jason Holder were his other two scalps.

4. A field day for Wriddhiman Saha:

Wriddhiman Saha became the first wicket keeper to effect 5 or more dismissals in an innings. Saha was involved in a total of 6 dismissals yesterday. 5 of his dismissals – Kraigg Brathwaite, Roston Chase, Rajendra Chandrika, Darren Bravo and Marlon Samuels – were caught behind whereas nightwatchman Devendra Bishoo was stumped.

5. Staring at an innings defeat:

West indies are in a weak position at the moment and need to do something extraordinary in their 2nd innings to escape from losing. After getting bundled out for just 243, they had a burden of 323 runs deficit to cover. But, things went from bad to worse after they lost Kraigg Brathwaite in the first over late in the day. They finished at 21/1 and are currently trailing by 302 runs. West Indies must try and play out the last two day of the game if they wish to save the match. Apart from that, under any circumstances, India look like clear winners.