India vs West Indies: India lead by 285 on Day 4

India took control of the third and penultimate cricket Test after Bhuvneshwar Kumar (5/33) produced a sensational spell of swing bowling to bundle out the West Indies for 225 in their first innings here.

Owing to Kumar’s third Test five-wicket haul, India finished day four in a position to dictate terms on the final day, as they reached 157 for three at stumps for an overall lead of 285 runs.

India had a first-innings lead of 128 runs.

At tea, the visitors were placed at 31/0, and thereafter Shikhar Dhawan (26) and KL Rahul (28) looked to get quick runs.

And they were successful in this endeavour up to an extent as the runs flowed quickly, and they put up a 49-run stand in just 7.3 overs.

But Rahul then was caught at second slip off Miguel Cummins (2-22), who also trapped skipper Virat Kohli (4) LBW soon afterwards, and that put the brakes on the Indian scoring.

The 50-mark had come up in the ninth over, and Ajinkya Rahane (51 not out) then looked to push the scoring.

But Dhawan too departed at the other end, LBW to Roston Chase (1-41) making things a tad tougher.

West Indies meanwhile were struggling with their over-rate and they put on Kraigg Brathwaite (0-33) in tandem with the off-spinner.

This allowed Rahane and Rohit Sharma (41 not out) to break the shackles, as the duo put up a 50-run stand in just 92 balls.

They brought out the shots in the latter stages of the day, especially Rohit, who struck three sixes.

Rahane reached his 8th Test fifty off 88 balls in the penultimate over of the day, and at stumps, they had added 85 runs for the 4th wicket, as India looked to press matters and force a result on day five.

This was after Kumar’s burst of 5-14 that sent West Indies crashing from 194/3 at lunch to 225 all out within 20.4 overs.

The 200-mark had come up for them in the 87th over, and thereafter the havoc began.

Kumar first removed Jermaine Blackwood (20) in the next over, caught at second slip by Kohli, thus ending his 67-run partnership with Marlon Samuels (48).

The latter was the next to go, two overs later, set up beautifully with a slew of outswingers and playing off an in-swinging delivery.