Hanuma Vihari and Ajinkya Rahane took India closer to a series sweep with an unbeaten 111-run stand, helping visitors set an improbable 468-run target for West Indies on day three of second Test here on Sunday. in-form Rahane (64 t out) and Vihari (53 t out) got India's second innings back on track after top-four were dismissed for 57 runs. fifth-wicket partnership allowed India to declare at 168 for four, giving ir bowlers 13 overs to have a crack on struggling West Indies batsmen.

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Rahane and Vihari partnership 

West Indies were 45 for two at stumps and with ir batsmen showing very little application in series, hosts are unlikely to get anywhere close to massive target.  Interestingly, India had decided against enforcing follow-on despite gaining a 299-run lead by bowling out West Indies for 117 an hour into morning session.  Virat Kohli-led side struggled against top-quality fast bowling from West Indies and laboured to 73 for four in 37 overs at tea. However, momentum was back with India in final session where Rahane and Vihari extended ir good run in series. 

Kemar Roach was all over Indian top-order but way Vihari played him was commendable. His 76-ball innings comprised eight fours including a delightful straight driver off Roach. Rahane too looked in control in his 109-ball effort that comprised eights fours a six. Both batsmen were able to score freely but it was t cased in afteron session when batsmen were made to work hard for every run on a testing pitch. West Indian pacers, led by Roach, made ball talk.  

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After dismissing opener Mayank Agarwal (5) before lunch, Roach came out firing on all cylinders and removed K L Rahul (6 off 63) and India captain Virat Kohli (0 off 1) off successive balls to be on a hat-trick.  Both were identical deliveries, pitching just outside off-stump before moving slightly away to take edge. While it was a rare duck for Kohli, Rahul never really got going before making his way back into dressing room, leaving India at 36 for three. Cheteswar Pujara (27 off 66) too found it tough in middle before West Indies skipper Jason Holder got better of him with a ball that rose sharply from back of a length, surprising experienced Indian batsman who edged it to gully.

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dismissal marked end of Pujara's tour in which he failed to cross 30-run mark in four innings, a complete contrast to his series-winning effort in Australia eight months ago. It was also a forgettable tour for Rahul whose highest score in four innings was 44. West Indies, resuming day at a dismal 87 for seven, batted for 14.1 overs before getting all out in morning session. Earlier, Roach (17 off 31) once again proved his worth with bat when specialist batsmen surrendered to a rampaging Jasprit Bumrah (6/26) who could t add to his overnight wicket tally after becoming third Indian to take a Test hat-trick.

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Jahmar Hamilton (5 off 59) tested patience of Indian bowlers before Ishant Sharma got rid of him for his sole wicket of innings. first to be dismissed on day three was Rahkeem Cornwall (14 off 31) who could t deal with a well-directed bouncer from Mohammad Shami, spooning a simple catch to Rahane.  West Indies did well to last a little more than an hour in morning session after showing application with bat on day two when Bumrah wreaked havoc.

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