Windies resist India in between the showers on day three

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

RESOLUTE BATTING down the order, led by their captain Kraigg Brathwaite, ensured there was no collapse from West Indies this time, but India made timely strikes in between a couple of rain delays to remain in control of the second Test yesterday in Trinidad.

Brathwaite made 75 and typified the painstaking approach from the Caribbean side, and they reached 229 for five, replying to India’s first-innings total of 438 when bad light stopped play on the rain-marred third day of the 100th Test between the two teams at Queen’s Park Oval.

All of the West Indies batsmen batted with restraint, but none of them could convert their promising starts into significant scores – Alick Athanaze was not out on 37 and Jason Holder was not out on 11 when stumps were drawn, debutant Kirk McKenzie made 32, and vice-captain Jermaine Blackwood got 20.

West Indies gathered only 143 from the 67 overs bowled during the day on a mostly unresponsive pitch, but they will be more than gleeful that their batting did not implode like the first Test when they failed to pass 200 in both innings, and they finished the day 10 away from making India bat again.

The hosts will be relying heavily on Athanaze and Holder on the fourth day to help them make a deep cut into the 209-run deficit they currently face with only the frontline bowlers remaining and two days left in the match.

“I enjoyed batting here more than Dominica,” Dominican Athanaze said.

“I came in at a stage where we had just lost a few quick wickets, and it was all about rebuilding, so I enjoyed the challenge of batting in that situation.

“There was not as much turn for the spinners as there was in Dominica, and given the quality of bowlers they have, they have played in so many different conditions, they understood the situation well and had the proper field settings to support the bowling, so it was a real challenge.

“I will be looking to continue in the same vein (today). It’s really about batting and batting long. We enjoy the challenge, and as a unit, it’s no secret we are trying to build something here, so I think right now we will just try to enjoy the challenge and stick to the basics.”

India lead the two-Test series 1-0 after they won the first Test that ended last Friday at Windsor Park in Dominica by an innings and 141 runs inside three days.

The two Tests are part of the new round of the World Test Championship 2023 to 2025.