AP, Jamaica :
India declared at 500-9 on Monday after slowly building a first-innings lead of 304 runs in the rain-hit second Test, and gambling on getting enough play in the final two days to beat West Indies.
India added 67 in the morning session – and 75 in the afternoon – before a mixture of rain and poor light brought day three to an early end.
Ajinkya Rahane scored his third century in his last four innings, and was 108 not out when India declared and rain forced an early tea on the third day. There was no play afterward.
West Indies struggled in its first innings at Sabina Park – all out for 196 – and must vastly improve to avoid a repeat of the first test, which India won by an innings and 92 runs. West Indies off spinner Roston Chase worked through India’s lower order as he picked up 5-121. The hosts’ bowling improved noticeably Monday with India’s lower order finding it hard to score with any real fluency. Earlier, India resumed on 358-5, moving to 425-6 at lunch with the sole loss of Wriddhiman Saha’s wicket. The Indian ‘keeper fell to the final ball of the morning, trapped leg before wicket for 47 after seamer Jason Holder’s delivery kept low.
India leads the four-test series 1-0.
