West Indies resumed their second innings following on at the overnight position of 21 for one. Eventually the hosts were dismissed for 231 in another abject batting display, despite half-centuries by Marlon Samuels and Carlos Brathwaite and a ninth-wicket stand of 95 between Brathwaite and Devendra Bishoo (45). Brathwaite and Bishoo offered resistance that was entertaining for the few home fans in the stands and more than a little irritating for Virat Kohli and his men who were kept waiting to celebrate a comprehensive win. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: India vs West Indies 2016, 1st Test at Antigua
Brathwaite finished unbeaten on 51, his third half-century in as many Tests, but with just one wicket for 242 runs so far in his young career, his value as a frontline bowler remains highly questionable. “We obviously need to bowl a bit better,” said a downcast West Indies captain Jason Holder in the aftermath of the heavy defeat.
“I’m not sure what we can expect from the pitch for the next Test in Jamaica. It’s been a bit flat of late but we’ll have to see what our options are when we get there,” the West Indian skipper added. WATCH: IND vs WI 2016, 1st Test, Day 4: Video Highlights of day’s play
Apart from earning the West Indies a modicum of respect, the ninth-wicket pairing’s defiance also embarrassed the frontline batting which once again failed to cope with India’s potent combination of pace and spin. Umesh Yadav got his team off to the perfect start in the morning, the fast bowler claiming the important wicket of Darren Bravo without any addition to the overnight score.
Samuels then made the most of a narrow escape when an appeal for a catch to the wicketkeeper off Mohammed Shami was turned down after consideration of the television replays. Amid growing questions about his place in the side following 11 consecutive Test innings of scores lower than 20, the elegant right-hander stroked 11 fours in an even 50 before being bowled by Ashwin. WATCH: IND vs WI, 1st Test, Day 4: Video Highlights of Ashwin’s wickets
His demise came just after Jermaine Blackwood fell for his second duck of the match and Ashwin added the wickets of Roston Chase and captain Jason Holder to turn the match into a formality. Wrist-spinner Amit Mishra accounted for Shane Dowrich in the midst of the rout before Brathwaite and Bishoo held up the victory celebrations.
Fittingly, it was left to Ashwin to claim the final two wickets in the space of three deliveries and make his team even heavier favourites going into the second Test beginning on Saturday in Jamaica.