The Albany Gazette - Rain frustrates India after Siraj five-wicket haul

Siraj scythed through the lower order to finish with five for 60 as the home side lost their last five wickets for 26 runs to be dismissed for 255 in their first innings to trail their opponents by 183 runs.

Captain Rohit Sharma then led the rush for runs with a 35-ball 50 before lunch.

He eventually fell for 57 while his opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal was a casualty of a similarly attacking 38 in the three overs which were bowled in the afternoon as India were left waiting for play to resume after tea at 118 for two.

Already ahead by 301 runs, but mindful of the potential threat of more inclement weather on the final day Monday, the visitors are likely to proceed with even greater haste in the final session in pursuit of a declaration to go after the suspect West Indies batting line-up a second time before the end of the day.

While Siraj got most of the acclaim with his second five-wicket haul in Test cricket, it was debutant seam bowler partner Mukesh Kumar who triggered the early morning slide.

He trapped Alick Athanaze leg-before with the fourth ball of the day and that opened the door for Siraj at the other end, the pacer bowling a full length and making full use of movement through the air and off the seam in muggy conditions to dispose of Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel.

Those last two wickets came off successive balls which leaves Siraj poised to complete a hat-trick if he strikes with his first delivery of the second innings.

Sharma then benefited from two simple dropped chances to belt 57 off 44 balls with five fours and three sixes before Joseph held a catch at fine-leg off Gabriel.

Jaiswal also put the team plan ahead of individual aspirations after lunch when a miscued slog sweep off left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican was easily pouched by wicketkeeper Joshua da Silva, leaving Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan to carry the assault whenever play resumed.

(U.Gruber--BBZ)