by Elton Gomes
Middle-order batsmen Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant scored half-centuries as India reached 308 for four and look to be in an advantageous position in the second Test. India trailed by three runs at stumps on Day 2 of the second Test at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Saturday.
Rahane (75 not out) and Pant (85 not out) were at the crease when umpires called it a day. The second session saw some improvement from the Windies as India posted 173 runs at the loss of four wickets at Tea.
Prithvi Shaw (70), who continued his impressive run from the first match, was the first wicket to fall for the hosts. Shaw’s was removed by Jomel Warrican.
Cheteshwar Pujara (10) however failed to click with the bat. Captain Virat Kohli (45) looked in solid form before he was caught plumb by Jason Holder.
For the Windies, Jason Holder remained the best among the bowlers, after he took two wickets for 30 runs. In the morning session, Shaw (52 batting) forged a 61-run opening wicket stand with K.L. Rahul (4) as India reached 80/1. However, K.L. Rahul disappointed once again, playing poor shots and not timing the ball adequately. He eventually gifted his wicket away to Windies skipper Holder.
India in control of the match
After bowling out West Indies for 311, Virat Kohli’s side came out all guns blazing with Shaw smacking a outstanding 53-ball 70 before Rahane and Pant ended the day with an unbroken 146-run stand.
Resuming on 297 for 7, the Windies lost Devendra Bishoo in the first over of the day inside-edging a harmless fuller length delivery off Umesh Yadav back on to his stumps for 2.
Roston Chase, who was unbeaten on 98 overnight then soon reached his century with a gentle tuck to mid-wicket off Kuldeep Yadav.
Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant hit unbeaten half-centuries to place India in the driving seat against the Windies. Paceman Umesh Yadav was also instrumental in India’s domination, after he achieved his career best by scalping six wickets for 88 runs. Yadav’s bowling was the reason why the Windies were reduced to 311 in the morning session.
While Pant celebrated his ODI call-up with an attractive unbeaten 85 off 120 balls, vice-captain Rahane worked hard to remain undefeated on 75 off 174 balls. Rahane and Pant managed to add 146 runs for the unbroken fifth wicket after India lost in-form skipper Virat Kohli (45) to be reduced to 163 for 4.
West Indies wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich was affected by injury early in the Indian innings, and had to be replaced with substitute Jahmar Hamilton behind the stumps. Hamilton was far from convincing for the Windies and he even dropped Pant on 24 off Shannon Gabriel, apart from a few misses.
Elton Gomes is a staff writer at Qrius
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