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Day 3: Shami, Yadav pile on misery for West Indies

Last updated on: July 24, 2016 09:34 IST

After being forced to follow-on, the West Indies were 21-1. They trail India by a massive 302 runs with two days remaining in the first Test at Antigua. 

IMAGE: Mohammed Shami of India celebrates after taking a wicket. Photograph: BCCI.

India took complete control of the first Test after bundling out the West Indies for 243 runs and then removing their in-form opener Kraigg Brathwaite, after enforcing the follow-on on Day 3, at Antigua, on Saturday.

The Caribbean side was 21 for 1 following-on and trail the visitors by a massive 302 runs, with two days remaining, at the Sir Viv Richards Cricket Stadium.

Pacers Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav starred for India with four wickets each, while leg-spinner Amit Mishra claimed the remaining two wickets in the first innings.

WI Scorecard for 1st inn:

IMAGE: Mohammed Shami celebrates with his teammates after dismissing Darren Bravo. Photograph: WICB.

Shami, who had dismissed opener Rajendra Chandrika on Friday, wreaked havoc in the Windies top order by picking the priced wickets of Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels and Jermaine Blackwood in the first two sessions on Saturday.

The West Indies, resuming the day at 31 for 1, adopted a cautious approach, with Brathwaite and night-watchman Devendra Bishoo at the crease.

Mishra struck the first blow in the form of Bishoo (12), who was stumped by wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha.

Returning to the squad after a year-and-a-half injury lay-off, Shami dismissed Darren Bravo (11) with a peach of a delivery.

IMAGE: Mohammed Shami celebrates after dismissing Jermaine Blackwood. Photograph: WICB.

Senior batsman Marlon Samuels (1) could manage only a solitary run and was Shami's the third victim.

The Bengal pacer pushed the home side on back foot in the same over by claiming his fourth wicket in the form of Blackwood.

Brathwaite went on to score his ninth Test fifty, but the Windies never looked threatening after Umesh Yadav followed in Shami's footsteps and picked wickets.

The fast-bowler broke the partnership between Brathwaite (74) and young Roston Chase (23) by dismissing the pair in quick succession.

IMAGE: West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite scores a boundary during his knock of 74 runs against India. Photograph: WICB.

Shane Dowrich and Jason Holder provided late resistance with some lower-order hitting.

Holder, who hit the only six of the innings during his knock of 36, was done in by Yadav, Saha claiming his sixth victim.

Saha meanwhile, equaled Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Syed Kirmani's record for the most number of dismissals (6) for an Indian wicketkeeper in a Test innings.

IMAGE: India pacer Umesh Yadav. Photograph: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images.

All-rounder Carlos Brathwaite was bowled by Yadav for a golden duck, becoming his fourth victim.

Dowrich was unbeaten, scoring an impressive 57 runs. 

Mishra claimed the last wicket as the West Indies conceded a massive lead of 323 runs in the first innings.

Following-on, Ishant Sharma, who went wicket-less in the first innings, struck in the first over, hitting Brathwaite’s (2) pads right in front of the stumps.

Chandrika (9) and Bravo (10) have a herculean task on hand when they resume on Sunday (Day 4) to save the Test for the West Indies.