Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane's half-centuries strengned India's position in first Test against West Indies, two performing ir leadership duties with aplomb. After a career-defining 81 in first innings, vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane remained unbeaten on 53 while skipper Virat Kohli was batting on 51, as India reached 185 for three at stumps on third day of ir opening World Championship Test on Saturday. visitors enjoyed an overall lead of 260 runs with seven wickets in hand and two full days play remaining. Dropped on 17 by John Campbell off Kemar Roach's bowling, Ajinkya Rahane made full use of life to register his career's 18th half-century.

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Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane save day for Men in Blue

Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli's unbroken fourth-wicket stand yielded 104 runs in 41.4 overs. India lost three wickets after lunch before Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli joined hands and duo played without taking any risk to keep visitors ahead. Off-spinner Roston Chase was pick of bowlers for hosts, taking two wickets for 69 runs. Opener Mayank Agarwal (16) was first wicket to fall for India in second innings, controversially trapped in front by Chase in 14th over. Although TV replays showed ball was missing leg stump, batsman didn't go for a review.

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After Agarwal's departure, K L Rahul (38) and Chesteshwar Pujara (25) added 43 runs for second wicket to take India forward. Rahul, however, gave away his wicket, bowled by Chase. He went across his stumps while going for a sweep, only to expose all three stumps and West Indian spinner succeeded as batsman failed to connect ball. An over later, Roach went through Pujara's defense to reduce India to 81 for three. India had earlier taken a healthy 75-run first-innings lead, which had swelled to 89 by lunch.

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West Indies frustrate Indian bowlers in first innings

visitors bowled out West Indies for 222 in 74.2 overs in ir first innings in reply to ir 297 all out, with Ishant Sharma returning figures of 5 for 43. Besides Ishant, Mohammed Shami (2/48) and left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja (2/64) scalped two wickets apiece. For West Indies, Chase top-scored with 48 while skipper Jason Holder played a fighting 39-run kck, as hosts failed to build up partnerships. At opening break of third day, India were 14 for loss in ir second innings.

Earlier, resuming at overnight 189 for eight, Holder and Miguel Cummins ground it out for 103 balls, forging a 41-run partnership for ninth wicket to take West Indies closer to Indian total. Holder made 39 off 65 balls with help of five boundaries and even though Cummins could t open his account, he lasted 45 balls to frustrate Indian bowlers. India needed 85 balls in opening session to dislodge duo. partnership was finally broken when Holder edged a Mohammed Shami delivery to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant in 74th over. Left-arm spinner Jadeja drew curtains on West Indies innings when he cleaned up Cummins an over later. 

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