A promising start by the West Indies batsmen in response to India’s formidable first innings total will give them a fighting chance heading into day three of the second Test match at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad.
West Indies closed day two at 86/1, still trailing India by 352 runs. Windies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite who made 37 and Kirk McKenzie 14 are the two unbeaten batsmen at the crease. A better batting performance by West Indies after being bundled out for 150 and 130 in the first Test match in Dominica.
Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul put on 71 for the first wicket in the final session with Chanderpaul hitting hitting a few fours including two sweep shots. He attempted a drive and only skied the ball to Ravichandran Ashwin at point to give spinner Ravindra Jadeja the wicket.
McKenzie came to the middle and settled down quickly hitting a six and a four. Brathwaite playing with his usual style may not be the most attractive batsman, but his dogged style is proving to work again.
India resumed at the start of day two on 288/4. They were dismissed for 438 just before the scheduled tea break. Virat Kohli, starting the day on 87 not out which brought up his 29th Test hundred. He also has 29 Test fifties.
The 159-run fifth wicket partnership between Kohli and Jadeja was finally broken when the pair tried to take a quick single on the leg side, but Alzarri Joseph was alert and with a direct hit ran out Kohli. Kohli struck 11 fours in his innings of 121 off 206 deliveries.
J
adeja followed soon after when he was caught behind by wicket-keeper Joshua Da Silva to give fast bowler Kemar Roach another wicket.
Ishan Kishan with 18 not out and Ashwin, six not out avoided any further loss in the first session guiding India to 373/6 at lunch.
Kishan was dismissed when he pushed tentatively at a delivery and was caught by Da Silva for 25 to leave the score 393/7.
Warrican grabbed the wickets of Jaydev Unadkat and Mohammed Suraj in quick succession. With wickets falling around him Ashwin showed his ability hitting 3 fours off Roach in the same over to bring up his half century.
Roach had the last laugh as he bowled Ashwin to end an eventful over. He was bowled for 56 off 78 balls with 8 fours.
Spinner Jomel Warrican grabbed 3/89 in 39 overs and Roach snatched 3/104 in 22 overs. Fast bowler Jason Holder was among the wickets taking 2/57 in 21 overs.
