Hanuma Vihari and Ajinkya Rahane struck well-compiled half-centuries on the third day of the second and final Test match to set a 468-run target for the West Indies at the Sabina Park.
On Sunday, first-innings centurion Vihari (53*) and in-form Rahane (64*) stitched together a 111-run partnership for the fifth wicket to take India out of shambles and declare at 168 for 4, allowing the bowlers to have a short go of 13 overs at the West Indies batters before the end of the day’s play.
At Stumps, the hosts were 45 for 2 with Darren Bravo and Shamarh Brooks batting at 18 and 4, respectively. Going by the way the Windies batters have performed so far in the series, it could be rest assured that the Men in Blue will finish the game on the fourth day itself.
Earlier in the day, India decided not to enforce the follow-on despite having a hefty first-innings lead of 299 runs as they bundled out West Indies for mere 117.
Resuming the day at 87 for 7, the hosts could bat for just 14.1 overs as they could manage to add another 30 runs to their overnight score.
Hat-trick hero Jasprit Bumrah finished with figures of 6 for 27, while Mohammed Shami bagged two wickets. Ishant Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja took one wicket each and help India take a gigantic lead of close to 300 runs.
India, who were bowled out for 416 in the first innings, declared their second innings at 168 for 4 leaving a mammoth score for the West Indies to chase.
Brief scores:
India (1st innings): 416 all out (Hanuma Vihari 111, Virat Kohli 76; Jason Holder 5/77); West Indies (1st innings): 117 all out (Shimron Hetmyer 34, Jasprit Bumrah 6/27); India (2nd innings): 168/4 (Ajinkya Rahane 64*, Hanuma Vihari 53*), West Indies (2nd innings): 45/2 (Darren Bravo 18*, John Campbell 16; Mohammed Shami 1/12)
(With inputs from IANS)