Mumbai: West Indies put up a much-improved batting display and rode on two century partnerships to lay the foundation for a mammoth first innings total in the third and final cricket Test against India here on Tuesday.
Down 0-2 in the three-match series after having lost the first two matches in Delhi and Kolkata, the visitors took full advantage of captain Darren Sammy’s luck with the toss and made optimum use of the good batting conditions to rake up a healthy-looking 267 for two at close on the opening day.
At stumps, Kirk Edwards (65 in 117 balls) and Darren Bravo (57 in 98 balls) were at the crease.
Opting to bat, the West Indies were earlier provided an excellent start by openers Adrian Barath (62 in 148 balls) and Kraigg Brathwaite (68 in 184 balls).
Edwards, who has struck 10 fours in his 146-minute unbeaten effort, and Bravo, who has seven hits to the fence to his credit in his 128-minute essay, have put on 117 runs in 192 balls for the unconquered third wicket stand.
The duo consolidated on the fine opening partnership of 137 runs provided by Barath, who struck his second successive half century, and Brathwaite.
For the home team, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin picked up both the West Indian wickets in a span of 20 balls to reduce the tourists to 150 for two at one stage.
However, some forthright batting by Edwards and Bravo, fresh from his brilliant 136 in the second innings at Kolkata, ensured that the visitors ended the day without any further damage.
The visitors were earlier dealt a big blow by the non-availability of experienced middle-order batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who did not recover sufficiently from his calf muscle injury picked up in Kolkata.
On the contrary, India went into the match by making the surprise move of leaving out Umesh Yadav, the highest wicket taker in the second Test, to give a chance to Varun Aaron to make his debut. (PTI)