NEW DELHI: Indian skipper Rohit Sharma continued his sublime form on the Caribbean tour with his third fifty plus score on the trot. Rohit also achieved a personal milestone by smashing his fastest half century off 35 balls in Test cricket.
The right-handed opening batter got to the landmark during Day 4 of the second Test against West Indies at Port of Spain in Trinidad on Sunday.
Rohit, who scored 103 in the first Test and 80 in the first innings of the second Test, was dismissed at 57 when he was caught at fine leg by Alzarri Joseph off Shannon Gabriel. His 44-ball knock was studded with five fours and three sixes.
Rohit and Yashasvi Jaiswal gave India a flying start in the second innings after Mohammed Siraj's career-best five-wicket haul (5/60) helped the visitors bundle out West Indies for 255 and take a mammoth 183-run first innings lead.
India were 98 for one in just 12 overs before rain forced early lunch, extending their lead to 281 runs.
Earlier in the day, the West Indies batters found Siraj unplayable as the 29-year-old, like he often does, used the scrambled seam to perfection.
However, it was debutant Mukesh Kumar who triggered the West Indies collapse by trapping southpaw Alick Athanaze (37) in front with an inswinger in the first over of the day. Play began half hour before scheduled time after time was lost due to rain on day three.