IND vs WI 1st Test, Day 2: Captain Rohit Sharma and youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal smashed half-centuries as India took control of the first Test against the West Indies by reaching 146 for no loss at lunch on the second day here on Thursday.
India are just four runs short of West Indies’ first innings total of 150. The visitors have nearly erased the deficit with the opening duo putting up a strong 100-run partnership.
While Rohit remained unbeaten on 68, Jaiswal made a significant impact on his Test debut as he remained unconquered on 62.
Resuming the day at 80 for no loss, Jaiswal and Rohit continued from where they left on Wednesday to score consistently.
The Windsor Park pitch got even slower on the day with most of the deliveries stopping and coming onto the bat.
Only 66 runs were scored during the session as Indian batters didn`t take any undue risks and batted in an unhurried manner against an insipid Caribbean attack that didn`t score much on potency quotient.
The two spinners — offie Rahkeem Cornwall (0/22 in 11 overs) and left-arm orthodox Jomel Warrican (0/34 in 14 overs) bowled tight lines but didn`t bowl too many wicket-taking deliveries.
The lack of pace off the track also made it easier for Indian openers to defend.
Jaiswal, who started the day on 40, struck his first boundary on Friday that got him to his half-century, which was also a vindication of the team management`s decision to promote him at the top on debut.
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It was a pull shot off Alzarri Joseph (0/42 in 8 overs), whose bowling lacked sting during that first session.
Jaiswal now have seven boundaries in his knock so far with six coming in the first evening while Rohit has six fours and two sixes
The old Dukes ball also didn`t offer much reverse swing and Rohit`s flick off Joseph to get a six over mid-wicket was the best shot of the morning.
He also rocked on back-foot and hit a square cut off Jomel Warrican and punched his full-toss through the covers after a quiet first hour.
With so much time left in the match, the Indians are rightly aiming to bat West Indies out of the game as it will get very difficult to bat in the third innings on a worn out track.
On first day, Indian spin twins Ravichandran Ashwin (5/60) and Ravindra Jadeja (3/26) had shared eight wickets to trigger the collapse of the West Indies batting line-up as the hosts were folded for 150 after skipper Kraigg Brathwaite opted to bat.
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Brief Scores:
West Indies 1st Innings: 150 all out in 64.3 overs (Alick Athanaze 47; Ravichandran Ashwin 5/60, Ravindra Jadeja 3/26)
India 1st Innings: 146 for no loss in 55 overs (Rohit Sharma 68 batting, Yashasvi Jaiswal 62 batting).
(With PTI inputs)
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