Published: Oct 12, 2018, 02:11 PM (IST)
Edited: Oct 12, 2018, 02:11 PM (IST)
As he had done on the stroke of lunch on day one of the second Test between India and West Indies, so Umesh Yadav struck a telling blow late in the second session to cut off another batsmen before he could do serious damage.
Called on by Virat Kohli after Roston Chase and Shane Dowrich began to take apart India’s spinners in a stand worth 69 for the sixth wicket, Umesh struck with his third delivery to win an lbw shout against Dowrich. That left West Indies at 182/6 which by tea had become 197/6.
Umesh was the only Indian pace bowler available once the debutant Shardul Thakur hobbled off the field after bowling 10 balls, and with the team confirming he would not return on Friday, Umesh’s role became more critical. In the over before lunch, he had snapped another sparkling partnership by trapping Shai Hope lbw for 36 and his removal of Dowrich later in the afternoon session was equally pivotal. Dowrich had just smacked Ravindra Jadeja for six down the ground, and ever since his arrival at 113/5 the punchy wicketkeeper-batsman had looked in the mood to dominate spin.
Post lunch, the losses of Shimron Hetmeyer and Sunil Ambris to Kuldeep Yadav threatened another poor total. Kuldeep’s variations proved too much for Hetmyer who padded up a wrong ‘un, whereas for Ambris all the wristspinner needed to do was keep tossing the ball up. On 18, Ambris tried to clear the infield and got a leading edge to cover.
Chase decided he wasn’t going to be subdued for long, and kept looking for ways to score. When Jadeja over-pitched, Chase made room and crashed four past extra cover. When Kuldeep veered too fine, out came the glance. Jadeja dropped short and was cut fiercely into the gap at point. When he slowed his pace, Chase brought out the slog for six. Chase raised his half-century in 80 balls and with the returning Jason Holder, took the score to safety.
Earlier, Kieran Powell’s 22 off 30 balls drove an opening stand of 32 in 11 overs until he flashed loosely at R Ashwin and picked out the fielder on the circle, the first success of the morning for India and Ashwin’s 500th wicket in first-class cricket. Ashwin sent down seven maidens while tying down Kraigg Brathwaite and Hope with his lines, often getting appreciable bounce to keep the fielders interested.
Brathwaite appeared up for the challenge and bedded in for one of his preferred innings – 68 balls for 14 runs – until he played down the wrong line to Kuldeep and was struck on the back pad by a ball that moved in. Braithwaite reviewed, but unsuccessfully. Hope, who since his twin hundreds against England at Headingley last year has crossed 50 just thrice in 21 innings, got to 36 before Umesh won an lbw shout.
Tea: West Indies 197/6 (Chase 50*) vs India
