The West Indies cricketers went missing in action for 72 overs of the third Seagrams Test match but showed up soon after to make a remarkable fightback at the end of the second day against India, at the Darren Sammy cricket ground in Gros Islet, St Lucia.
Midway through the opening day, they had the visitors struggling on 126 for five but a record sixth wicket stand of 213 runs in 72 overs between centurions Ravichandran Ashwin and Wriddhiman Saha brought India right back into the contest. Youngster Alzari Joseph finally broke the partnership midway through the second day and the home team bounced out the last five Indian batsmen for just 14 runs, as India folded for 353.
In reply, the West Indies closed strongly on 107 for one - still needing another 247 runs to overhaul India's first innings effort. Leading the effort was vice-captain Kraigg Brathwaite who finished the day on a dogged unbeaten 53. The West Indies lost Leon Johnson by the run out route for 23 after he and Brathwaite posted 59 for the opening stand.
Johnson, who replaced Rajendra Chandrika in the West Indies lineup, was punished for attempting a risky single as he was run out with a direct hit from Lokesh Rahul.
Darren Bravo partnered Brathwaite to stumps and was unbeaten on 18 from 66 deliveries. Brathwaite, as solid as a rock, will be hoping to continue in that same vein today, having faced 143 balls - hitting six to the fence.
India resumed on 234 for five and batted sensibly as the overnight pair of Ashwin (75 not out) and Saha (46 not out) fought off a re-energised West Indies fast bowling unit.
Only 21 runs came in the first hour's play but with the second new ball softening, the Indians attacked in the second hour before lunch - producing 61 runs.
Saha was the man leading the way, pulling with great confidence. When the lunch van pulled up, Ashwin was unbeaten on 99 and Saha 93.
A nervy Ashwin played out a maiden first over after lunch but got his fourth Test century (all against the West Indies) in the next over with an on-driven six. He took 265 balls, striking five fours and a six in getting to the milestone.
Saha followed him to triple figures, his first off 223 balls with 12 fours. When Saha finally fell, caught behind of a persevering Joseph, the stand had eclipsed the previous best sixth wicket partnership for India against West Indies. That mark stood at 170 and was created by Ravi Shastri and Sunil Gavaskar in 1983 at Chennai.
Saha's wicket breathed life back into the West Indies quicks and before you knew it, Brathwaite and Johnson were padding up to open the batting.
Miguel Cummins, bowling at good speeds and hitting the deck hard, ripped out three wickets, including the obdurate Ashwin for 117. The Barbadian had him fending to Johnson at short leg after facing 297 balls and hitting six fours and one six.
The Indians lost their last five wickets for 14 runs and the final three for no runs, as they folded for 353. Cummins in his second Test match took 3/54, Joseph on debut 3/59 while Shannon Gabriel (2/80) and Roston Chase (2/70). were the other wicket takers.
SCOREBOARD
WI vs India
India 1st inns (o/n 234/5)
KLRahul c Brathwaite b Chase*50
S Dhawan c Dowrich b Gabriel*0
V Kohli c Bravo b Joseph*3
A Rahane b Chase*35
R Sharma c Dowrich b Joseph*9
R Ashwin c Blackwood b Cummins*118
W Saha c Dowrich b Joseph*104
R Jadeja c Dowrich b Cummins*6
B Kumar c Johnson b Gabriel*0
M Shami not out*0
I Sharma c Johnson b Cummins*0
Extras 7b, 8lb, 2w, 10b*27
Total all out*353
Fall of wkts: 9, 19, 77, 87, 126, 339, 351, 353, 353, 353.
Bowling: S Gabriel 24-4-84-2, A Joseph 24-6-69-3, M Cummins 21.4-8-54-3, J Holder 19-7-34-0, R Chase 33-9-70-2, K Brathwaite 8-1-20-0.
WI 1st inns
K Brathwaite not out*53
L Johnson run out*23
D Bravo not out*18
Extras 9b, 2w, 2nb*13
Total for 1 wkt*107
Fall of wkts: 59.
Bowling: B Kumar 11-4-11-0, M Shami 9-1-35-0, R Ashwin 13-4-17-0, I Sharma 7-0-26-0, R Jadeja 7-2-9-0.