Mohammed Siraj’s fifer followed by maiden fifty by Ishan Kishan helped India gain firm control at the end of Day 4 of the second test against West Indies at Port of Spain on Sunday.
Resuming at 229/5, West Indies lost Alick Athanaze (37) leg before wicket to debutant Mukesh Kumar in the very first over.
Siraj then ran through the lower order by claiming his second five wicket haul as the hosts were skittled out for 255, giving India a massive lead of 183.
In reply, openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and skipper Rohit Sharma got India off to a electrifying start in their second innings. The pair added 98 runs for the opening wicket. Indian skipper who was dropped twice on 25 & 29, was finally caught at fine leg by Alzarri Joseph off Shannon Gabriel for 57.
Jaiswal then miscued a slog sweep off Jomel Warrican to wicket keeper Joshua Da Silva for 38. The pair of Kishan along with Shubman Gill added an unbroken 79 run stand for the third wicket stand to take the visitors to 181/2 in 24 overs, with an overall lead of 364.
Chasing 365, openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul got West Indies off to a steady start. The duo put on 38 runs for the opening wicket before the former top edged a sweep off Ravi Ashwin to Jaydev Unadkat for 28.
The Indian off-spinner also trapped Kirk McKenzie leg before wicket with an arm delivery for a duck.
At the end of Day 4, West Indies finished at 76/2, still requiring a further 289 runs on the final day. Chanderpaul and Jermaine Blackwood remained unbeaten on 24 & 20 respectively.
Stumps at the end of Day 4
West Indies 255 (Brathwaite 75, Siraj 5-60, Jadeja 2-37) and 76 for 2 (Brathwaite 28, Chanderpaul 24*, Ashwin 2-33) need a further 289 runs to beat India 438 and 181 for 2 dec (Rohit 57, Kishan 52*, Gabriel 1-33)