India lead the four-test series 1-0, but West Indies took enormous heart from drawing the second test, after appearing doomed for defeat until a stellar final-day batting effort saved the match.
Advertisement
Shai Hope, the right-hand opening batsman who made an unbeaten 118 for a WICB President’s XI in a two-day warm-up game against the visiting Indians last month, has been drafted into the West Indies squad announced on Thursday (August 4) for the third Test beginning in Gros Islet on August 9. His sixth-wicket partnership with Wriddhiman Saha reached 98 as 67 runs were added in the two hours’ play before the wicketkeeper-batsman fell leg-before to Holder for 47 on the stroke of lunch.
The West Indies bowlers stuck to their task well, keeping the India batsmen subdued for long periods.
Chase also became the first West Indies player since Garry Sobers in 1966 to score a century and take a five-wicket haul in the same Test.
Chandrika’s place has been taken by Hope who though promising, has also struggled at worldwide level, with only 171 runs in six Tests at an average of 15.
“It’s a great feeling to get five wickets in a match, but at the Test level it’s even a better feeling for me knowing that I am just starting at this level”, said Chase.
Resuming the day tottering on 48 for four, Blackwood led the way for the Windies as he immediately put the Indian bowlers on the backfoot with an innings which required just 54 balls and included nine fours and two sixes.
Persistent showers prevented any play after tea with the West Indies facing a massive deficit of 304 runs at the start of their second innings. In this interim, play did get under way and Ishant Sharma (1-19) bowled Rajendra Chandrika (1), the opener shouldering arms to an incoming short delivery that was deflected onto his stumps off his arm. You obviously feel from the position we were in that we should have probably wrapped up the Test match, but having said that this is certainly something that happens in a Test match. On these pitches when the ball is not hard enough, play goes dead for 25-30 overs.
With India only six wickets away from a victory, Virat Kohli and his men will be hoping for a clear sunny day on Wednesday.
“Our bowlers tried their best”.
Bowling: Gabriel 28-8-62-1 (nb7), Cummins 26.4-4-87-0, Holder 34.2-12-72-1, Chase 36.1-4-121-5, Bishoo 35-5-107-1, Brathwaite 11-0-40-0.
Advertisement
Shami then picked up another scalp with what proved to be the last ball of the day when Darren Bravo (20), who had looked shaky from the start, fended a short, rising ball to third slip.
