NEW DELHI, India (AFP) — The West Indies did not lose a wicket after tea to be 173-2 in their second innings at the end of day three of the second Test on Sunday, after following on, but still need 97 runs to make India bat again.

India’s Kuldeep Yadav earlier took five wickets at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium as the hosts bowled out the West Indies for 248 in their first innings after lunch, a deficit of 270.

Captain Shubman Gill enforced the follow-on and the visitors lost two wickets before tea.

But opener John Campbell then reached 87 not out and Shai Hope was unbeaten on 66 as the pair put together an unbroken, 138-run stand.

“It may be a good thing to be challenged,” said India’s Assistant Coach Ryan ten Doeschate, who defended India’s decision to enforce the follow-on.

“Getting probably 130 overs in already, that’s a good test in the legs. We’re going to get sturdier Tests in the future where you do have to field for a day and a half,” he told reporters.

The gutsy batting of left-handed Campbell and Hope allowed them to build the highest partnership for the West Indies for any wicket in Tests this year.

Campbell became the first West Indian to reach fifty in the two-match series with a four off Kuldeep.

He survived a couple of close lbw calls against off-spinner Washington Sundar early in his innings but went on to dominate the bowling.

Hope reached his fifty off Ravindra Jadeja and raised his bat to an applauding dressing room.

“This is the first time we have been able to win a session in the two Tests. It’s all about application,” West Indies spinner Khary Pierre told reporters.

“The wicket is going to deteriorate more so the more runs we could pile on, it could be a challenge for the Indian batsmen,” he said.

India won the first Test in Ahmedabad by an innings and 140 runs.

PIERRE… the wicket is going to deteriorate more so the more runs we could pile on, it could be a challenge for the Indian batsmen