West Indies fast bowler Miguel Cummins is confident that if the team sticks to their plans in the ongoing third Test against India, they can level the series with a victory at Darren Sammy National Stadium.
West Indies, after winning the toss and bowling first, had India in a spot of bother at 126 for five before the tea break on the first day.
However, Ravichandran Ashwin and Wriddhiman Saha joined hands and scored hundreds while they shared a 213-run stand for the sixth wicket.
This partnership propelled India to 353 runs in their first innings, but West Indies staged a comeback with the bat to end the second day on 107 for one with Kraigg Brathwaite unbeaten on 53.
Cummins, who took three wickets in the first innings of the third Test after a wicketless debut in the second match, said that he tried to build pressure and did not allow himself to be flustered in the innings.
“For me, the first Test, my debut game, was very tough, because I was playing for the first time so nerves took in.
“I was fighting a long way, fighting hard, hard, hard.
“I came today and saw the guys take wickets but didn’t let that fluster me.
“I tried looking for wickets but my job was to build pressure and later on cleaning the tail as fast as possible.”
Acknowledging the stand between Saha and Ashwin, Cummins said that West Indies did well to rattle India’s talented top order on the first day.
“We did a very good job of getting their top order,” he said.
“Their top order has talented batsmen but we stuck to our plans from the first two games.
“But can’t take anything away from Ashwin and Saha, they batted very well.
“We just had to keep fighting when they had the partnership.”
Stating that it will be crucial for West Indies to seize the advantage in the Test, Cummins is assured that if West Indies follow their plans, they will be able to come out victorious.
“First things first, we have to take it one day at a time and build on our position right now.
“I can’t give you a guarantee, but hopefully if we stick to our plans we will come out victorious.”
At the end of day two, West Indies were trailing India by 246 runs with Brathwaite and Darren Bravo batting at the crease on an unbeaten 48-run stand.
