Kingston (Jamaica): Opener Lokesh Rahul showed a lot of composure en route a career best innings of an 158 as India slowly and surely took control of second day's proceedings moving up to 359 for five at stumps on Day 2 in the second cricket Test against West Indies, at Kingston on Sunday.
For Rahul, it was a case of making full use of the opportunity as it is his third Test ton in overseas conditions.
Rahul added 121 runs for the second wicket with Cheteshwar Pujara (46, 159 balls), whose subdued batting was one of the reasons for India scoring 59 runs in the first session.
Pujara was run-out in the post lunch session in which Rahul added another 51 runs with skipper Virat Kohli (21 batting). India now lead by 63 runs after bowling out the hosts for just 196 in their first innings.
The 200-mark for India came up in the 70th over, and the duo celebrated their 100-stand for the 2nd wicket off 283 balls. Even as the batsmen looked for runs, they had to take some risks, and in doing so Pujara was run-out after a direct throw from square leg found him short of the crease.
It was a long stay at the crease, which didn’t even result in a half-century, an obvious source of disappointment as the batsman trudged off slowly. Rahul suffered cramps thereafter, but kept going as Kohli joined him.
The West Indies' decision to delay the new ball helped him settle down, and he was beaten only once in the first 20 deliveries that he had faced. Kraigg Brathwaite (0-25) was put to bowl, much to everyone's surprise, and soon the runs began flowing again as India went past the 250-mark in the 90th over, as the two batsmen put up 50 runs for the 3rd wicket off 106 balls.
Rahul was eventually caught behind off the bowling of Shannon Gabriel for 158, while Kohli perished to off-break bowler Roston Chase, with Chandrika taking a sharp catch at short leg. Devendra Bishoo got rid of the promoted R Ashwin soon after, but Ajinkya Rahane and Wriddhiman Saha saw out the day with a 31-run unbeaten stand, to take the visitors to 358/5 at stumps.
