Finance
Debutant opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and skipper Rohit Sharma both hit century as India maintained their lead in the first Test against the West Indies, reaching 312/2 in their first innings and a 162-run lead at the end of the second day here.
On a day of consolidation for the visitors, Jaiswal struck his maiden century in 215 balls (114), while Rohit Sharma (103) compiled his 10th Test century off 220 balls (104, 26) as India pressed home their advantage after bowling out the West Indies for a paltry 150 on the opening day thanks to a superb 5-60 haul by seasoned off-spinner R. Ashwin.
On Thursday, Jaiswal was batting on 143 with former India skipper Virat Kohli (36 not out) keeping him company. West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite used nine bowlers in total but could only claim two wickets as Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma held the fort for India.
On Thursday, Yashasvi Jaiswal, a young left-handed opener, became the 17th Indian player to achieve a century on his Test debut, while captain Rohit Sharma scored his tenth century in the format, as the visitors reached 245/2 at tea.
It was a day of dominance for India, as they managed to build a first-innings lead without losing a wicket for the first time in Test cricket , though West Indies struck back by taking two wickets in the last 15 minutes before the tea break.
With their massive 229-run opening stand, Jaiswal and Rohit established India’s first 200-plus opening partnership against the West Indies in Tests.
Apart from his normal aggressive shots, both conventional and odd, the left-handed Jaiswal appeared in command even when put to the test. He took 16 balls to get off to a flying start on day one with a brilliant upper-cut for four, and he started day two by leaving Jason Holder’s deliveries five times in a row, aside from displaying patience when spinners Warrican and Cornwall were hammering the edges of the bat.
After a calm start, Rohit stunned everyone by chipping a Jason Holder delivery over the bowler’s head for four. Jaiswal got going by driving late behind square and cutting off Holder to take two boundaries in quick succession.
Despite Jomel Warrican shifting his angle to round the wicket, Jaiswal remained calm and drove past mid-off for four. Despite the fact that the ball had been changed, Jaiswal easily drew off Alzarri Joseph to collect another boundary.
Jaiswal reached his Test century on debut with a sweep past fine leg off fellow debutant Alick Athanaze’s part-time spin in the 70th over, with a wide smile on his face and a gentle bow expressing his emotions on an unforgettable day in his cricketing career.
After driving Kemar Roach behind point for four, Jaiswal replaced the ball, and Rohit hammered a drive over the bowler’s head for a boundary. Rohit brought up his century by drilling an Athanaze full toss through cover for four and acknowledged the applause with gentle raise of the bat.
On the next ball, Rohit pressed forward to defend but was undone by additional bounce on the ball hitting his gloves, and wicketkeeper Joshua da Silva stepped across to make the catch, giving Athanaze his maiden Test wicket as he was dismissed for 103.
Shubman Gill swiped beautifully off Warrican for four before the left-arm spinner got one to turn away and take the outside edge on defence to second slip, departing for six, until Jaiswal and Kohli brought India to safety until tea.
Brief scores:
West Indies 150 trail India 312/2 in 113 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal batting 143, Rohit Sharma 103, Virat Kohli batting 36; Alick Athanaze 1-33, Jomel Warrican 1-82) by 162 runs.
Source:IANS
