Rampant India held back by weather at Kingston

KINGSTON, JAMAICA: As forecast, rains made a telling appearance in Kingston on Tuesday, wiping away almost the entire day’s play on the fourth day of the second Test. Only 15.5 overs were possible in the day but were enough for India to wreck West Indies’ top order. The hosts were 48/4 in their second innings at Sabina Park, still needing 256 runs to make India bat again.
It was stop and start before lunch with a light drizzle interrupting play twice.A late lunch was taken as India looked to unleash the knockout punch. Soon, heavy rains arrived and remained in force for a sustained period. The umpires had no choice but to call off play for the day at around 3.45 pm local time.
In whatever play was possible, Indian pacers made life difficult for West Indies batters. Mohammad Shami bowled what was probably the ball of the match to dismiss Marlon Samuels as India made early inroads into the batting line-up. Having tested Samuels with short-pitched stuff, Shami moved one away just a touch to beat the bat and clip the off bail. In his next over, Shami made Darren Bravo fend one to KL Rahul in the slips.
In the morning, play began 45 minutes late but rain came back to send the players scurrying into the dressing rooms as the Test continued to reel under the weather’s impact. It had rained intermittently since early morning here in Kingston and chances of any play, at least in the early part of the day, were remote. However, excellent drainage facilities at Sabina Park meant play began at 10.45 am local time.
Only three overs, however, could be bowled before the torrent came back to put a stop on cricket, frustrating India.
After a break of about 20 minutes, the umpires were back in the middle, players in tow. But even before they could reach the middle, it began drizzling again. West Indies batsmen Kraigg Brathwaite and Bravo were only happy to come back into the pavilion while the Indians stood in the middle with a bemused look on their faces. The covers were back with West Indies six for one in their second innings.
This interruption too wasn’t a long one as the players were back in the middle after about 25 minutes.
Enjoying a massive first-innings lead of 304, India were looking to get in as many overs as possible over the next two days to try and knock West indies out. Already, almost half of the third day’s play was lost to a steady drizzle. With a tropical storm brewing close by in the Caribbean Sea, more rain and thunderstorms were predicted for Kingston on Tuesday.
The signs did not look good in the morning but with rain relenting, hopes of some action in the middle increased. And when play resumed, Ishant Sharma, as he had done in the first innings, got India a quick breakthrough in his second over. Opener Rajindra Chandrika, who has seldom inspired any confidence in the series so far, was caught in two minds as Ishant got one to bounce outside the off. Chandrika’s hanging bat could only help the ball on to the stumps.
Skipper Kohli’s move of bringing in leggie Amit Mishra also paid dividends immediately when Brathwaite skied an intended pull and KL Rahul took the catch at mid-wicket. The way Brathwaite dragged himself back to the pavilion hinted at his disappointment at his casual dismissal.