Ind vs WI: India lead by 304; rain delay on Day 4

The start of the day four of the second Test between India and West Indies was delayed due to rain. Just as the umpires came to inspect the field at around 9:30 am (West Indies time), it started raining again. It had rained earlier during the night and early morning.

Earlier on day three, Ajinkya Rahane scored a century as India took a first innings lead of 304 runs and piled more pressure on the struggling West Indies unit before the final session on day three of the second Test was washed off.

Rahane (108 not out) carved out his seventh Test hundred to strengthen India’s hold on the game as the visitors declared their innings at 500 for nine in response to West Indies’ first innings score of 196.

Rahane’s gritty century was followed by the declaration in the post lunch session but intermittent rain ensured not a single ball was bowled for the remainder of the day.

Early tea was called after a second rain interruption. Post lunch, Amit Mishra (21) had joined Rahane and the leg spinner looked for some quick runs, smacking Devendra Bishoo (1-107) for six.

The pacers were brought on almost immediately to block any plans of quick scoring on part of the batsmen. Even so, the 450-mark came up in the 161st over, as also the 250-lead.

Thereafter, rain started pouring in. There is threat of tropical storm Earl still looming large on the match. After an hour, the game restarted with just about 25 minutes to play until tea. In this interim, West Indies got a couple of quick wickets, as Roston Chase (5-121) removed Mishra, caught at short leg, before sending back Mohammed Shami (0) first ball. Umesh Yadav denied Chase a hat trick, even as Rahane tried to speed up to his hundred, smacking Chase for a six.

The session had been extended and Kraigg Brathwaite (0-40) came on to bowl, and both Rahane and Yadav went in for quick runs. In doing so, the Indian vice-captain completed his hundred off 231 balls.

SCOREBOARD West Indies (1st innings): 196 India (1st innings): KL Rahul c Dowrich b Gabriel 158, S. Dhawan c Bravo b Chase 27, C. Pujara (run out) 46, V. Kohli c Chandrika b Chase 44, A. Rahane (not out) 108, R. Ashwin lbw b Bishoo 3, W. Saha lbw b Holder 47, A. Mishra c Chandrika b Chase 21, M. Shami b Chase 0, U. Yadav c Holder b Chase 19. Extras (b8, lb3, w6, nb10) 27. Total (for 9 wkts, in 171.1 overs) 500 decl. FoW: 1-87, 2-208, 3-277, 4-310, 5-327, 6-425, 7-458, 8-458, 9-500. Bowling: Gabriel 28-8-62-1 (7nb), Cummins 26.4-4-87-0 (1w), Holder 34.2-12-72-1 (2nb, 1w), Chase 36.1-4-121-5, Bishoo 35-5-107-1, Brathwaite 11-0-40-0.