IND v WI 3rd Test: India dismiss West Indies in 47.3 overs to seal series

West Indies' batsman Marlon Samuels kneels after he was bowled by India's Ishant Sharma as India's captain Virat Kohli, second from right, and Lokesh Rahul celebrate his dismissal during day five of their third cricket Test match at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in Gros Islet, St. Lucia. (AP)

 

 

Gros Islet (St Lucia): Indian pacers responded beautifully to their skipper Virat Kohli's decision of sporting declaration as they reduced West Indies to a precarious 53 for three at lunch on the fifth and final day of the third cricket Test, here on Saturday.

India declared at 217 for 7 in their second essay riding on Ajinkya Rahane's useful 78 thereby leaving West Indies with a stiff target of 346 in 87 overs.

However the trio of Mohammed Shami (1/5), Ishant Sharma (1/17) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/12) polished off the top-order during the 20 overs before lunch to raise visions of a victory.

Left-hander Darren Bravo (26 batting) and centurion of the last Test Roston Chase (10 batting) were at the crease as hosts were looking to break the shackles they had been placed under after some tight bowling. Bhuvneshwar and Shami had started off proceedings, and the duo were right on the money with the new ball.

While the former tied down the batsmen with some tight swing, the latter used pace to force them back.

It resulted in a double success in the space of four balls, as Shami had Leon Johnson (0) caught at forward short leg, with Rohit Sharma completing a good anticipatory catch in the fourth over.

Four deliveries later, Kumar trapped Kraigg Brathwaite (4) leg before even as the ball stayed low just a bit.

Marlon Samuels (12) then resisted for a short while and saw off the two bowlers, but he found Ishant tough to handle as well. He played an uncharacteristic stroke to an incoming delivery and was bowled. Chase then came out to bat ahead of Jermaine Blackwood, and steadied things going into the break.

Ravichandran Ashwin (0/16) and Ravindra Jadeja (0/3) were the other bowlers deployed.

This was after India had declared their innings closed after 40 minutes of play in the morning session. 

Starting from the overnight 157 for three, Rohit Sharma (41) who hit a four and three sixes got a a poor leg before decision from umpire Nigel Llong before adding anything to his overnight tally. The bowler was Miguel Cummins.

There was a thick inside edge, which the umpire failed to detect, and it wasn't his only howler as Wriddhiman Saha (14) was adjudged caught behind off a massive no-ball from Cummins.

Llong didn't even bother to go upstairs to the third umpire and the keeper-batsman was given his marching orders. 

Cummins (6/48) benefitted on both occasions, and then picked up his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket when Ravindra Jadeja (16) was caught at deep cover going for a big shot.

Ashwin (1) then became his sixth dismissal and the last batsman out for India, as skipper Virat Kohli decided that it was time to bowl.