India firmly in control as Windies follow on

India took a strong grip on the first Test on Saturday as they forced West Indies to follow on and then made an early breakthrough in the second innings.

The tourists had racked up a mammoth 566-8 declared on day two in Antigua, and their domination continued on the third day, this time with ball in hand.

Seamers Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami took 4-41 and 4-66 respectively as the Windies were bowled out for 243, leaving them 323 behind.

Only opener Kraigg Brathwaite – seventh out for 74 – and wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich (57 not out) provided any real resistance, as a combination of disciplined bowling and poor shot-making saw India take control.

Unsurprisingly, India captain Virat Kohli enforced the follow on and was rewarded almost instantly as this time Brathwaite perished from just the fifth delivery.

There were no further dismissals before the close as West Indies reached stumps 21-1, still 302 runs away from making India bat again.

After the Windies resumed 31-1, nightwatchman Devendra Bishoo’s stay was finally ended when he was stumped for 12 off the bowling of Amit Mishra (2-43).

The hosts suffered a blow just before lunch as Darren Bravo edged Shami behind for 11, and after the break the seamer removed Marlon Samuels and Jermaine Blackwood in the same over for 1 and 0 respectively.

Debutant Roston Chase (23) pulled Yadav to midwicket and West Indies were 144-7 when Brathwaite’s vigil was brought to a close as he gloved a brute of a delivery from the same bowler.

Jason Holder (36) and Dowrich put on 69 for the eighth wicket until the captain edged Yadav behind. Carlos Brathwaite left the next delivery, which uprooted his off stump, before Mishra cleaned up Shannon Gabriel (2).

There was to be no repeat in the second innings from Kraigg Brathwaite (2), who was pinned lbw by Ishant Sharma (1-3), before Rajendra Chandrika and Bravo negotiated the closing overs with the Windies facing a huge task to save the game.