Kingston: Opener KL Rahul showed a lot of composure, hitting a career-best 158 as India reached a comfortable 358 for 5 on the second day, thereby taking complete control of the second Test against West Indies at the Sabina Park in Kingston on Sunday.
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Ashwin grabbed 5 for 52 in 16 overs en route his 18th five-wicket haul in longer format as West Indies were all-out for 196 in 52.3 overs.
He became just the third Indian bowler to have five-wicket innings hauls in three consecutive Test matches after fellow spinners Bhagwat Chandrasekhar and current coach Anil Kumble.
He seemed poised to open up afterward when he unfurled successive off-side boundaries off the first three deliveries of the second over following the resumption from Ishant.
Only 59 runs were added from the overnight position, extending the second-wicket partnership between Rahul and Pujara to 98, but none off the bowlers were able to make the much-needed breakthrough. “He keeps batting all the time and it’s not a surprise that he’s made runs and I’m very happy for him”, Ashwin added.
This was after West Indies won the toss on a damp pitch and elected to bat.
Debutant Miguel Cummins heaved his way to an unbeaten 24 in an entertaining 38-run last-wicket stand with Shannon Gabriel before leg-spinner Amit Mishra ended the innings to put the seal on another efficient effort in the field by the visitors. English all-rounder Woakes shined both with bat and ball. Kraigg Brathwaite (1) was unable to fend off a short delivery in the 3rd over, lobbing an easy catch to Cheteshwar Pujara at forward short leg.
Bravo’s weakness outside the off-stump was then immediately capitalised upon, the left-hander failing to cover a full-length delivery properly for a delighted Indian captain Virat Kohli to take the catch at second slip.
That was the only success for a limited West Indies attack through the first two sessions of the day as they struggled to offer any consistent threat to batsmen well equipped technically and temperamentally for the requirements of the day, especially after India had taken such a firm grip on the match by the end of day one.
Samuels continuously egged him on at the other end.
After the session resumed, rain forced the players to stay indoors, but once it started it brought with it the Caribbean parade. If I had come back after lunch it would have been a different ball game because Marlon and me had a nice partnership. There were some interesting shouts against Blackwood, who lived dangerously.
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West Indies made a brief comeback as Bishoo trapped Ravichandran Ashwin (1) LBW in the 113th over.
