Published: Jul 25, 2016, 01:22 AM (IST)
Edited: Jul 25, 2016, 03:48 PM (IST)
Virat Kohli‘s double hundred helped India trounce West Indies by an innings and 92 runs in the first Test at Antigua. Ravichandran Ashwin’s 113 in the first innings and a seven-wicket haul in the second too was crucial in ensuring India’s mammoth big win. Cricketers often find the transition from the shortest format to the longest one a difficult task. India’s Test captain is an exception. Having played only the shortest format since January, Kohli took very little time to get in terms with the dynamics of Test cricket, so much so that, in the process, he became the only Indian captain to score an overseas double ton. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: India vs West Indies 2016, 1st Test at Antigua
After calling it right at the toss, Kohli did not hesitate to bat first, albeit the pitch had a ting of grass on one side and few cracks on the other. However, he surprised everyone by opting leg-spinner Amit Mishra over all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.
West Indian pacer Shannon Gabriel rocked the Indian top-order, rattling Murali Vijay with a ferocious bouncer. Cheteshwar Pujara soon joined him the dressing room by playing a poor shot, by his standard.
In came Kohli at No. 4. He looked comfortable right from the word go, reducing the West Indian bowling to nothingness. This relieved struggling Dhawan at the other end, as he boasted of his natural game and brought up his half-century.
The due added 105 runs for the third wicket before Dhawan was trapped lbw by Devendra Bishoo. Wickets kept tumbling at the other end. However, Kohli displayed grit and resilience, and brought up his 12th hundred, eventually reaching the 200-mark for the first time in his career. Full Cricket Updates: India vs West Indies, 1st Test, Day 4
Ashwin played perfect second fiddle to him, scoring his third hundred in 237 balls, all three against the same opposition. With few overs still to be bowled on Day 2, India declared at 566 for 8, making the exhausted West Indians bat in the last session.
West Indian batting, which was thin on numbers, failed against the might of Indian pacers, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav. They took four wickets each, bundling West Indies out on 243. The only batsman who exhibited tenacity was Kraigg Brathwaite, as he accumulated 74 runs off 218 balls.
India enforced follow-on, with West Indies trailing by 323 runs.
Indian bowlers continued their imperious show, as West Indies lost five wickets with only 101 runs on the scoreboard. Ashwin, who was wicketless in the first innings, ran through the hosts’ batting line-up and registered his maiden five-wicket haul outside the subcontinent. IND vs WI Live Streaming: Watch live telecast on Ozee.com
Yet again, there was only one West Indian batsman who came with an intent to score. Veteran Marlon Samuels churned out a half-century, inclusive of 11 swashbuckling boundaries. Nonetheless, he failed the test of endurance and was knocked over by Ashwin’s peach of an off-spinner.
Carlos Brathwaite and Bishoo the put on a fifty stand for then ninth wicket to keep India at bay in the second innings. Brathwaite scored his third half-century in his short Test career so far and Bishoo, who batted with grit as the nightwatchman in the first innings was dismissed by 45, his highest Test score.
Mishra justified his inclusion by taking wickets as well as scoring a vital half-century. The final nail in the coffin was hammered by Ashwin, who dismissed Shannon Gabriel for 4.
Brief scores:
India 566 for 8 decl. (Virat Kohli 200, Ravichandran Ashwin 113; Devendra Bishoo 3 for 163, Kraigg Brathwaite 3 for 65) beat West Indies 243 (Kraigg Brathwaite 74, Shane Dowrich 57*; Umesh Yadav 4 for 41, Mohammed Shami 4 for 66) & 231 ( Marlon Samules 50, Carlos Brathwaite 51*; Ishant Sharma 1 for 27, Ravichandran Ashwin 7 for 83) by an innings and 92 runs.
Man of the Match: Ravichandran Ashwin
