ST LUCIA - Two early wickets, and sharp turn and bounce created excitement on the first session of the fourth day, but West Indies a session closer to safety. Two wickets fell, both overnight batsmen, for 87 runs in the session extended by 15 minutes to provide extra time after rain washed out the third day's play. With five sessions to go, West Indies were now 159 behind with seven first-innings wickets in hand.

With the first wicket of this innings coming through a run-out, there was a time when Indian bowlers had gone 529 legal deliveries without taking a wicket. There was a question mark against the legality of the 530th, which produced Darren Bravo's wicket. The previous wicket, that of Shane Dowrich on the last day the last Test, had been dubious too.

There was nothing dubious about the plan, though. There was a short leg, a backward short leg and a fine leg in place for Bravo who doesn't like the bouncer as witnessed earlier in the series. Finally he had had enough, and hooked at a high delivery after having taken head, and thus his eyes, away in self-defence. The top edge settled with fine leg, but Ishant Sharma didn't quite seem to have a part of his foot behind the crease. It wasn't an obvious no-ball, though, and after multiple replays the third umpire ruled in favour of the bowler, perhaps acting on the new ICC directive to grant the benefit of doubt to the bowler.

There was no doubt in the next dismissal. Nine balls later, still in the first hour of the day, R Ashwin drew turn and bounce to create a leg-side catch with his first ball of the day. Kraigg Brathwaite fell for 64 as he instinctively followed the ball with his hands as it turned. Now about 20 overs from new ball becoming available, and with the turn on offer, Kohli went to dual spin attack.

It was perhaps the moisture retained after a day's rain that afforded that turn, and Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja kept asking questions persistently. Ashwin slowed the ball down, getting valuable dip and drift, and Jadeja kept it tight with his accuracy. Crowded by close-in fielders, Marlon Samuels and Jermaine Blackwood tried aggressive shots, keeping the bowlers interested. On 7, Blackwood went back to cut one from Jadeja and the thick edge flew safe of slip. After hitting one straight six, Samuels hit Ashwin in the air and with the spin even with long-on and deep midwicket in place.

When on 11, Blackwood pushed hard at an Ashwin offbreak, but the bat-pad flew out of short leg's reach.

Just before lunch, though, Virat Kohli claimed the new ball as soon as it became due, despite the number of chances spin was creating.

Scoreboard

INDIA 1ST INNINGS: 353
WEST INDIES 1ST INNINGS:
K Brathwaite c Saha b Ashwin 64
L Johnson run out 23
D Bravo c Jadeja b I Sharma 29
M Samuels not out 39
J Blackwood not out 20
EXTRAS: (b13, lb2, w2, nb2) 19
TOTAL: (3 wkts; 83 overs) 194
FOW: 1-59, 2-129, 3-135
BOWLING: B Kumar 13-4-19-0, M Shami 15-3-50-0, R Ashwin 24-6-51-1, I Sharma 13-2-40-1, R Jadeja-18-8-19-0
TOSS: West Indies
UMPIRES: N Llong (Eng), RJ Tucker (Aus)
TV UMPIRE: GO Brathwaite (WI)
MATCH REFEREE: R Madugalle (SL)