West Indies v India, 2016
Wisden's review of the third Test, West Indies v India, 2016
15-Apr-2017
Wriddhiman Saha congratulates R Ashwin on his century • Associated Press
At Gros Islet, St Lucia, August 9-13, 2016. India won by 237 runs. Toss: West Indies.Test debut: A. S. Joseph.
India had never previously won two Tests in a series in the Caribbean, and had been shaken by West Indies' rearguard at Sabina Park. But things returned to script in St Lucia, where another big first innings set up a series-clinching triumph. India's start was less certain, though. They had made two surprising decisions, preferring Dhawan and Rohit Sharma to Murali Vijay, who was fit again, and Cheteshwar Pujara.
India had never previously won two Tests in a series in the Caribbean, and had been shaken by West Indies' rearguard at Sabina Park. But things returned to script in St Lucia, where another big first innings set up a series-clinching triumph. India's start was less certain, though. They had made two surprising decisions, preferring Dhawan and Rohit Sharma to Murali Vijay, who was fit again, and Cheteshwar Pujara.
Neither reached double figures as Gabriel and the lively 19-year-old debutant Alzarri Joseph struck quickly. Rahul made a defiant 50 but, when Rahane fell for 35, West Indies were on top at 126 for five. Ashwin changed all that, in partnership with Saha. They batted cautiously for the rest of the first day and half the next, eventually adding 213, India's best for the sixth wicket against West Indies, beating 170 by Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri at Madras in 1983-84.It was Ashwin's fourth Test century - all against West Indies - but Saha's first, in 14 matches spread over six years; it seemed to cement his place as M. S. Dhoni's successor as India's Test keeper.
The last five wickets tumbled for 14, both Joseph and Cummins finishing with three,and West Indies began well enough, reaching 107 for one by the end of the second day,before rain obliterated the third. When play resumed, Ashwin removed Brathwaite after more than four hours, but at 202 for three a draw looked likely - before West Indies outdid India's collapse with an even more calamitous effort. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, in his first Test for 19 months, got the ball swinging after lunch, and blew away the middle order, as seven wickets tumbled for 23.From nowhere, India had a lead of 128, and more than doubled that by stumps, with Rahane and Rohit Sharma going well. After 60 runs in nine overs on the final morning - Cummins ending with six of the seven wickets to fall - Kohli declared for the third Test in a row, setting West Indies 346 in 79 overs. They never got close. Mohammed Shami started the rot, removing Johnson for a duck, and three balls later Kumar trapped Brathwaite. Darren Bravo resisted for three hours, but West Indies were bundled out in less than 48 overs.
Man of the Match:R. Ashwin
Man of the Match:R. Ashwin