2nd Test: Rahane, Saha keep India in charge

KINGSTON (Jamaica): It was the 142nd over of the Indian innings. Ajinkya Rahane was well set, batting on 62. The match had more or less moved beyond West Indies' grasp. But captain Jason Holder was not finished yet. In one over, he beat the technically-sound Rahane on four occasions, twice appealing for lbw decisions and twice beating the outside edge. It was crafty medium-pace bowling in hot conditions by Holder. He made the old ball move in and go out to keep Rahane guessing. But a wicket remained elusive.

This over encapsulated the flow of play on the third morning of the second Test on Monday. Led by Holder, West Indies bowled with discipline and commitment but Rahane and Wriddhiman Saha were either equal to the task or fortune did not favour the hosts who had to but endure another frustrating session of play.

Holder finally was rewarded at the stroke of lunch when he trapped Wriddhiman Saha lbw but by then India's lead had ballooned to 229. India, who had begun the day at 358/5, well-ensconced in the saddle, had moved to 425/6 by lunch on Day Three at Sabina Park. Rahane, who started the day at 42, duly completed his fifty with a feisty upper cut off Miguel Cummins, taking 92 balls to reach the milestone. At lunch, he was unbeaten on 74 (176 balls, 11x1, 1x6). Saha too played a good hand with 47 (116 balls, 5x4).

While Rahane had his problems with Holder, his strokeplay was the highlight of the morning session. If a cover drive off Shannon Gabriel was pure class, the upper cuts he employed to beat the in-field was smart improvisation. In between, he and Saha nudged the ones and twos to keep the score rolling. Saha showed good judgement outside the off, leaving alone those he need not fiddle around with.

West Indies needed early breakthroughs to have any hopes of making a comeback in the Test. The Rahane-Saha stand, worth 98, dashed these hopes and made sure India continue to have the upper hand. In fact, India have been well served by partnerships right through the innings with KL Rahul featuring in three useful partnerships - 87 with Shikhar Dhawan (first wicket), 121 with Cheteshwar Pujara (second wicket) and 69 with Virat Kohli (third wicket).

West Indies got a respite early in the day when pacer Miguel Cummins, who had to leave the field on Sunday after a bout of cramps, returned to bowl on Monday.