IMAGES from Day 4 of the 2nd Test between India and West Indies in New Delhi on Monday.
The Indian bowling attack faced a stern test of character on an unresponsive sub-continental track but came out trumps, leaving the hosts on the cusp of a 2-0 clean sweep over a fighting West Indies on the fourth day of the second Test in New Delhi on Monday.
The Indians need another 58 runs on the final day to win the game after reaching 63 for 1 at stumps in pursuit of 121.
Jasprit Bumrah (3/44 in 17.5 overs), Kuldeep Yadav (3/104 in 29 overs), Ravindra Jadeja (1/102 in 33 overs), Mohammed Siraj (2/43 in 15 overs) and Washington Sundar (1/80 in 23 overs) toiled hard for more than 118.5 overs in the second innings.
They eventually bowled out the West Indies for 390, leaving the home team with a target of 121 to chase in 18 overs left on the fourth evening.
KL Rahul (25 batting) and Sai Sudharsan (30 batting) looked comfortable but didn't take too many risks after Yashasvi Jaiswal (8) holed out in the deep.
Earlier, Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav claimed three wickets apiece as the West Indies were bowled out for 390 in the final session of the fourth day, setting India a target of 121 runs to win the second and final Test, in New Delhi on Monday.
The West Indies had slipped from 212/2 to 311/9 but a resilient 79-run partnership for the 10th wicket between Justin Greaves (50 not out) and Jayden Seales (32) had kept India at bay on either side of the tea break.
Bumrah (3/44) took the final wicket of the innings to dismiss Seales as West Indies were bowled out for 390 following on.
The visitors, who produced their best show with the bat in their final outing of this tour, were bolstered by centuries from opener John Campbell (115) and Shai Hope (103), who also added 177 runs for the third wicket to lead the response.
Mohammed Siraj struck a decisive blow with the second new ball before Kuldeep Yadav ran through the lower-middle order as Indian bowlers found their mojo in the post-lunch session to put the hosts in line for victory on day four of the second Test against the West Indies.
At tea, West Indies reached 361 for nine at tea with a lead of 91 runs after Justin Greaves (35 batting) and Jayden Seales (18 batting) added 50 for the unbroken final wicket stand in the extended second session.
John Campbell (115 off 199 balls) and Shai Hope (103 off 214 balls) added 177 runs for the third wicket to show their stomach for fight but bowling unit's patience paid off once the second new ball came into operation post lunch.
The only consolation from this match for the West Indies would be two centuries and forcing India to bat for the second time.
It was a complete bowling effort as Kuldeep, Jasprit Bumrah, Siraj and Jadeja all played their part with timely dismissals to ensure a finish inside four days.
The Indian bowling unit can take heart from the fact that they bowled as many as 190.5 overs across two innings in conditions not conducive for either spin or pace.
The quality of cricket in the series wasn't of the highest standard and partly the reason would be the dead pitch at the Feroz Shah Kotla which didn't show any signs of wear and tear even well into the fourth day.
The balls did keep low and it became West Indies' batters undoing but it was more to do with their choice of shots rather than some dream delivery getting them out.
John Campbell paid the price for his indiscreet choice of shots but Shai Hope defended dourly to take West Indies to 252 for 3 at lunch on the fourth day of the second Test against India in New Delhi on Monday.
West Indies now need to score 18 more runs before they can make India bat again but more importantly the docile nature of the track has made it a toil for the spinners.
Campbell (115 off 199 balls) and Hope (92 batting) didn't look in any sort of trouble during the first hour of play.
With virtually no turn on offer, Ravindra Jadeja (1/75 in 25 overs) didn't seem half as effective as he is on tracks that turn square. Jasprit Bumrah at the other end was steady but not exactly menacing.
Campbell slogged Jadeja over cow corner bent on one knee to complete his first Test hundred in 25 appearances with only three fifty plus scores in the previous 49 knocks.
The problem with using shoulder and increasing pace on deliveries meant that there was no possibility of turn. If one tried to get flight and turn, then off the pitch it didn't even travel to the batter, who had all the time in the world to rock back and manoeuvre on either side of the wicket.
The Campbell-Hope duo had added 177 runs for the third wicket and was looking good for a few more, the only way a wicket could have come was poor shot selection from the Windies batters.
The drinks break did affect the rhythm and Jadeja operating from the Ambedkar Stadium end finally had the rub of the green going his way. Campbell needlessly went for a reverse sweep to a straight delivery pitched on leg-middle line and was adjudged leg-before.
Skipper Roston Chase (23 batting) came and lofted Washington Sundar over long-on for a six as he and Hope added another 40 runs for the unbroken fourth wicket stand going into the lunch.
Hope changed his stance from side-on to slightly open chested. While he had to curb a few shots, it allowed him to defend doggedly. For Washington, he would plonk his front foot outside the line of the off-stump and for Jadeja, he would drag it outside the leg-stump to smother the turn and negate chance of lbw.
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