With a superb delivery, R Ashwin dismisses Brathwaite, and the tenacious West Indies reach 174/3 at tea on Day 3

On the third day of the second Test here on Saturday, West Indies struggled to 174 for 3 at tea against India after Ravichandran Ashwin delivered the ball of the series to pierce a tenacious Kraigg Brathwaite’s defense.

Before the world’s No. 1 Test bowler took the spotlight with a stunning performance that brought the smiles back to the Indian camp, West Indies captain Brathwaite (75 off 235 balls) utilized his extraordinary powers of focus to delay the Indian attack on an uninteresting track.

The track being offered here is a poor representation of Test cricket, hence it would be shocking if the ICC gave it a grade other than “Average.”

A draw appears certain if West Indies were careless with their shot selection in the first Test but the home side batsmen were too cautious and a lifeless wicket assisted their negative attitude.

After laboring for almost 73 overs on a surface that is best described as “dead,” Ashwin (30-10-57-1) produced a delivery with enough flight and inward drift to persuade Brathwaite to plant his front foot for the nth time.

But to his astonishment, the ball suddenly spun, a perfect delivery for an off-spinner that went between the bat and pad and struck the stumps.

Brathwaite was a good defensive player, but his one mistake was to move his bat ahead of his pad, which allowed the ball to fully exploit the space.

When Brathwaite and a similarly stolid Jermaine Blackwood (16 off 89 balls) brought their ultra-defensive “A” game to the fore in the post-lunch session, they added just 40 runs in 21 overs.

It is very impossible for bowlers to create opportunities on the Queens Park Oval ground because West Indies hitters are determined to block more deliveries.

Indian bowlers were left high and dry after the first session was lost to rain in large part because the track did not exhibit significant wear and tear.

It was clear from Ravindra Jadeja’s statistics (19-10-19-1) that defending wasn’t tough since he seldom bowled wicket-taking balls.

When he over-flew a couple deliveries and was sent to the boundary, Ashwin experienced some irritation as well.

Kirk McKenzie, another rookie, was the victim of debutant Mukesh Kumar’s nagging channel bowling during the morning session, who was rewarded with his first wicket.

Using a line that was either directly on the off-stump or just outside of it, Mukesh produced a delivery that McKenzie (32 off 57 balls) edged to Ishan Kishan for a legal catch.

Throughout his 57-ball stint, McKenzie, who had four boundaries and a six, seemed to be in great shape.

It has been a struggle for the Indian bowlers so far since neither pacers nor spinners can get traction on the wicket.

Veteran Saurashtra left-arm bowler Jaydev Unadkat, on the other hand, would be eager to add to his wicket total.

The Indian bowling attack’s weakest link is unquestionably the domestic workhorse, who has conceded 32 runs in 12 wicketless overs thus far.

Unadkat hasn’t just struggled to take wickets, but he hasn’t even seemed sharp enough to pose a threat to Brathwaite’s tight defensive style.

Unadkat was the simplest bowler to maneuver because of his lack of speed and inadequate movement off the surface.

Unadkat may find it very challenging to keep his spot in the team with the next series in South Africa after two wicketless Tests in the West Indies.

Despite bowling at the same speed, Mukesh and the Bengal pacer discovered significantly longer lengths, which set them apart from one other.

Unadkat’s stock delivery is one that is pushed across the right-handers, which is pretty predictable, but there is also that small suggestion of movement inward or outward that may confuse batters.