Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav put India in command at tea on day three

India's grip over the first Test against the West Indies tightened as they removed four West Indian wickets and put themselves in total command. Mohammad Shami continued to impress, picking up the wickets of Marlon Samuels and Jermaine Blackwood to leave the hosts in deep trouble. Kraigg Brathwaite and Roston Chase anchored the reply with a defiant stand 47-run stand, but Umesh Yadav brought his side roaring back with the wickets of both the set batsmen in quick succession. West Indies were left reeling at 157 for 7 when the bails were removed for Tea on day three.


Starting the second session at 90 for 3, West Indies were in dire need of a good partnership. Shami, however, put them on the back foot immediately with the wickets of Samuels and Blackwood. Samuels played a poor shot to a ball that was well wide of off. His attempted poke took the edge and Wriddhiman Saha completed an easy catch behind the stumps. In the same over, Shami got one ball to rise sharply after pitching, leaving Blackwood little chance of getting away. He awkwardly fended at the ball, and edged it to the keeper.
 
Chase looked quite comfortable during his debut Test batting stint, showing a particular willingness to play the pull. Him and Kraigg Brathwaite, who scored a hard-working half-century, helped West Indies keep the Indians at bay for a bit. Umesh Yadav, however, had other ideas.
 
Chase's strength resulted in his undoing. A pull off Yadav was not particularly well struck, and went straight to Virat Kohli at mid-wicket. Not long after, Umesh surprised Kraigg Brathwaite with a superb short delivery, and the batsman ended up gloving the ball through to give Saha his fifth dismissal of the innings.
 
India also thought they had Shane Dowrich out caught at slip off R Ashwin in the final over before Tea, but replays showed that the ball had pitched inches before it landed in Ajinkya Rahane's hands.
 
Earlier, nightwatchman Devendra Bishoo was involved in a defiant partnership with Brathwaite, ensuring that the hosts did not lose any wickets in the first hour. However, Mishra managed to give India their much-needed breakthrough as he had Bishoo stumped for 12 off 46 balls to end his 38-run stand with Brathwaite. Darren Bravo and Brathwaite then managed to keep India at bay for more than 10 overs. But Shami was rewarded persistence with the wicket of Bravo late in the morning session.
 
West Indies ended the second session at 157/7, trailing by 409 runs.