Virat Kohli’s 121, coupled with fifties from Rohit Sharma (80), Ravindra Jadeja (61), Yashasvi Jaiswal (57), and Ravichandran Ashwin (56), helped India amass 438 runs in their first innings on Day 2 of the second Test against the West Indies at Queen’s Park Oval on Friday.
West Indies bowled out India for 438 in the second session, despite losing the wickets of Ishan, Ashwin, Jaydev Unadkat, and Mohammed Siraj. India, which was 373/6 at lunch, made 65 runs in 20 overs and lost four wickets to finish with 438 at tea.
Ashwin and Ishan started the second session by setting some ground rules. The West Indies, on the other hand, struck early in the session, dismissing Ishan for 21.
Ishan was caught behind by Jason Holder, who bowled well outside off stump, but the left-hander edged it and Joshua Da Silva easily took the catch behind the stumps.
Soon after, Ashwin was called LBW by the umpire, but he reviewed it and it proved out to be a smart move because ball tracking revealed that the ball had just missed the leg stump by a hair’s breadth.
Ashwin led India past the 400-run barrier with a remarkable display of graceful and savvy batting. Jomel Warrican later fired Jaydev Unadkat.
Warrican struck again, dismissing Mohd Siraj, leaving India nine points down for 426. Then Ashwin altered gears, slamming Kemar Roach with two consecutive boundaries to finish his half-century off 76 balls before falling a delivery later for the score of 56 as India finished with 438.
Earlier, with India’s innings at 288/2, Kohli smashed a boundary off Shannon Gabriel in the 71st over to bring up his 29th Test century. Jadeja soon followed with his 19th Test fifty.
Kohli and Jadeja displayed great batting steadiness as they forged a 159-run partnership for the fifth wicket. The stand ended when Kohli was run out on his individual score of 121, as the West Indies desperately needed a breakthrough.
Later, Jadeja was caught behind for 61 off the bowling of Kemar Roach, but India was still in control at 373/6 at lunch.
At stumps on Day 1, India had posted 288 for four. Yashasvi Jaiswal (57 off 74), Rohit (80 off 143 balls) struck half-centuries for the visitors after being sent into bat.
Source:IANS