west indies 289 more runs needed to defeat 255 (Brathwaite 75, Siraj 5-60, Jadeja 2-37) and 76 for 2 (Brathwaite 28, Chanderpaul 24*, Ashwin 2-33) India 438 and 181 till December 2 (Rohit 57, Kishan 52*, Gabriel 1-33)
The hosts ended the day at 76 for 2 on a Port-of-Spain pitch more suited to spinners. The forecast for Monday is also quite grim, so if India want to beat both the West Indies and the weather, they will have to gear up with the ball as well.
Yashasvi Jaiswal’s six over extra cover in the first over bowled by Kemar Roach was a sign of the carnage to come. In Roach’s next over, Rohit took him across the midwicket boundary with more enthusiasm.
Rohit made West Indies pay on Sunday before he was eventually caught at fine leg, where Alzarri Joseph didn’t mess it up. Jaiswal then helped India reach 100 in 12.2 overs – the fastest team century in Test cricket (where known). When Jaiswal tried to move forward, he made 38 runs from 30 balls and was caught by the wicketkeeper with a slog-sweep off Jomel Warrican. Only three overs were allowed in the afternoon session due to bad weather, but once the sun came up, Kishan successfully slog-swept Warrican to the midwicket boundary.
Kishan also batted flat over Warrican’s head before hitting a six with one hand like Pant. Moments after Kishan completed his half-century with a one-handed six, Rohit declared India’s second innings at 181 for 2 in 24 overs. Shubman Gill had contributed to that total with 29 not out off 37 balls.
It was debutant Mukesh Kumar who hit a four in the very first over of the day, when he had Alek Athanase LBW with an inswinger over the wicket. After being given out by on-field umpire Marais Erasmus, Athanaz almost immediately went for review, but Hawk-Eye suggested it might have just hit the leg stump. Athanaz can count himself a bit unlucky, with ball-tracking also returning the umpire’s call on impact.
In the next over, Siraj moved out of the crease, prodding Jason Holder to play the inward angle, but the ball swung away and kissed the edge. Siraj proceeded to cut the tail with his wobble-seam inductee and outswinger. He led the India players off the field and was warmly welcomed by bowling coach Paras Mhambrey.
India needed less than eight overs and less than an hour on the fourth morning to bowl out West Indies in the first innings. However, there was not as much emphasis on the offer for India in the extended post-tea session. So, Siraj and co. His length was reduced, but Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarina Chanderpaul were up to the task.
Brathwaite was busier than West Indies in the first innings, driving and hitting a boundary off Siraj. Chanderpaul spent 21 balls at 2 and 62 without any boundaries, but remained largely composed. However, the opening partnership ended at 38 when Ashwin swept Brathwaite to short fine leg in his fourth over. In his next over, Ashwin trapped McKenzie for a duck soon after changing his angle on the wicket.
Ravindra Jadeja also took a sharp turn, but Chanderpaul and Jermaine Blackwood stumped West Indies without causing any further damage.
Devarayanan Muthu is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo