Rajkot, (INDIA): Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin claimed four wickets to help India close in on a big win after dismissing West Indies for 181 and enforcing the follow-on in the opening Test in Rajkot on Saturday.
The tourists were 33 for one at lunch, needing another 436 runs to avoid an innings defeat at the start of the two-match series. Kieran Powell, on 22, and Shai Hope, on nought, were batting at the break.
Ashwin, fresh from his 4-37 in West Indies’ first innings, struck again before lunch to claim the wicket of stand-in-skipper Kraigg Brathwaite for 10.
Earlier Roston Chase top-scored with a gritty 53 for the West Indies who started the day on 94-6 in response to India’s mammoth 649-9 declared.
Chase put up some resistance against an inspired Indian bowling attack during his 73-run seventh wicket partnership with Keemo Paul, who made 47.
Chase and Paul countered with a flurry of boundaries early in the morning session to give some hope of West Indies fightback but their batting fell flat soon after the duo’s departure.
Umesh Yadav struck the first blow in the morning session after getting Paul caught at mid-wicket for 47. Just into his second Test, Paul hit seven fours and two sixes during his 49-ball stay.
Ashwin got Chase bowled on a big turning off-spinner that found the inside edge of the bat to crash on to the stumps.
But it was the Indian batsmen who made the world’s number one side dominate after centuries by debutant Prithvi Shaw, skipper Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja.