Ajinkya Rahane scored a century as India took a first innings lead of 304 runs and piled more pressure on the struggling West Indies unit before the final session on day three of the second Test was washed off.
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“At the beginning of this game, I had said that it is all about improvement for us. It’s a young side and I don’t expect leaps and bounds from this group so soon, but it is just important that we continue to improve”, Holder told a media conference afterward. But I think he has got to use Umesh as a wicket-taking bowler.
“Obviously we wanted to win this Test match”.
The spinners couldn’t get much purchase from the pitch either, which was shorn of day five characteristics and the batsmen did not have much difficulty in negotiating the Indian bowling.
Overall, Chase is the 4th West Indies to achieve the double of 5 wickets and a hundred in same Test. Sobers did it twice (1962 Vs India, Kingston and 1966) while Denis Atkinson (1955 Vs Australia, Bridgetown) Collie Smith (1959 Vs India, Delhi) achieved once each. Chase found solid support in Shane Dowrich, who was batting at 33 in an unbeaten 74-run stand for the sixth wicket as a bright sunny day made conditions better for batting. But their partnership was broken by R Aswhwin when he had Blackwook caught at forward short leg. The breakthrough did not exactly open the floodgates as the Indian team would have hoped for but still Virat Kohli was not giving up hope. But finally India’s hopes were dashed as Chase along with his skipper, Holder, held the fort. During this partnership Chase completed his maiden Test century. “Chase’s approach today was very good. I’m sure on the next opportunity, whenever that is, the bowlers will be probably come up with a different approach, in terms of the challenge”, Kumble signed off.
“A lot of credit must be given to Roston. The last Test in Antigua the bowlers bowled back to back, we try and take workload in training sessions with respect to what happened in the match”.
India declared their innings thereafter, leaving about 40 minutes for the West Indies to play out before the close of the day, but rain intervened again and an early tea was taken.
“Obviously the Ashwin factor is a big factor”.
“Credit must go to our guys. What we have done really well is knock the top off really quickly”.
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Following a start delayed by rain, setting the tone for repeated frustration in Jamaica, Rajendra Chandrika (1) was an early Sharma victim, the ball ricocheting onto his stumps as he attempted to leave a delivery just short of a length outside off in the third over. We had to show a lot of patience.
