Match as it happened

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Scorecard

Looking at the way West Indians batted in their first innings and in the second (following on), it was difficult to say they were the same set of batsmen.

While they imploded in the first session, ending it at a low total of 153, they have batted solidly in the second, scoring 193 for three by the end of Day Three.

Bad light has often helped batsmen when they are finding the going tough. Umpires usually suspend play and wait for the situation to improve. However, it has had a negative impact on the Windies here.

With light waning out early here on the first day, the officials decided to start the second and third day half an hour early. Before the start of the Test, it had been decided that the match would begin at 9 am, which is half an hour earlier than usual start for matches in India. And with the advancement by 30 more minutes, the day’s play began at 8.30 am.

This only means that the wicket gets an hour less than usual to rid itself of the moisture accumulated overnight. And the ball has been moving a lot more and turning longer too.

At the start of third day’s play, India captain MS Dhoni handed the ball to left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha and he immediately got purchase out of the wicket. He soon had the Caribbeans in his web. Pacer Umesh Yadav also got the ball moving around on a humid and overcast morning.

However, during lunch break, the day got clearer and the sun brighter. This helped in the drying of the pitch and the Windies started breathing easy. The nine pins of the first innings, batted like the turtle shell formation of the Spartans.

Ojha, who wreaked havoc in the first innings scalping four, found the wicket haul drying up. “I think we bowled pretty much the same way in the morning and then in the second innings, after lunch,” said Ojha.  “The thing is the wicket got better after lunch.”

While the Day Three may have ended on the right note for the visitors, don’t think they will be counting too many chickens in their egg basket. After all, fourth day is scheduled to start at 8.30 am on Thursday.