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Kohli, Jadeja lead India’s revival with century stand
Virat Kohli, playing his 500th international game, led India’s revival along with Ravindra Jadeja following an inspired bowling performance from West Indies in the second session of the second Test in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Half-centuries from Rohit Sharma (80) and Yashavi Jaiswal (57) helped India to a solid start after being asked to bat, as they added 139 in quick time. However, West Indies hit back with regular strikes in the second session as India slipped to 182/4. But thanks to Kohli’s unbeaten 87 and his unbroken 106-run stand with Jadeja, India managed to end the first day’s play at 288/4 on Thursday (July 20).
Kohli and Jadeja went about it watchfully at the start of the third session with West Indies maintaining disciplined lines. Apart from the singles and occasional twos, the two concentrated on mostly defending and leaving deliveries at the start of their association. As the partnership began to develop, Kohli capitalised on a full delivery from Kemar Roach to cream it through covers for a four and he even drove a Roach delivery on the up for a boundary. There was also a thick outside edge for a four off Kohli’s bat while Jadeja got his first four by executing a cover drive off Roach.
Jadeja’s second four also came off a cover drive, this time off Alzarri Joseph, before drove one uppishly off Jomel Warrican to bring up his half-century and extend the partnership past fifty. Jadeja then guided a Joseph delivery between point and gully for his third four and the bowler hit back by attempting short-ball tactics at the left-hander, troubling him a couple of times. But Jadeja did manage to put away one for a boundary, so did Kohli as India crossed the 250 mark. Kohli put away a full ball from Warrican through covers for a four to enter the 80s and stretch the partnership to 100. With their over-rate on the slower side, West Indies operated with spinners and didn’t opt for the second new ball. Both batters went back unbeaten at Stumps, with West Indies bowling only 84 overs in the day’s play despite the 30-minute extension.
Earlier, India rode on a powerful platform provided by Rohit and Jaiswal, who both got past fifty in the first session. They collected 14 fours and three sixes between them before Lunch as India scored at a rate of 4.65. There wasn’t much help for the pacers as well as the spin of Warrican, which made the decision at the toss by West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite questionable. The bowling too was wayward at times, allowing Rohit to pull a couple across the fence, with the second six helping him get to fifty off 74 ball.
Jaiswal, at the other end, was a lot quicker to get to his half-century as he struck two successive fours off Roach to reach the mark off 49 deliveries, shortly after the openers raised their second successive century partnership. Holder created a genuine chance when he got Jaiswal to edge one that seamed away but Alick Athanaze failed to take a low chance diving forward at first slip as the Indian openers walked back unbeaten at Lunch, having scored 121 at a rate of 4.65 in the first session.
West Indies, however, hit back strongly after the break to dominate a session for the first time in this series. Only 61 runs came off 24.4 overs in the second session, with India losing four wickets. Jaiswal fell to Holder as he got an outside edge attempting a big drive, handing a catch to debutant Kirk McKenzie placed at a deep, wide gully position. Shubman Gill cut away a couple behind square for boundaries but his innings was cut short by Roach who had the No.3 out caught behind. To add to India’s problems, Rohit was bowled by a flighted delivery from Warrican which turned away a touch after being angled in.
West Indies were even more frugal in the hour before Tea. Kohli took 21 deliveries to get off the mark, playing a straight drive off Joseph for a boundary, while Ajinkya Rahane also remained watchful as the fourth wicket pair got into damage control mode. Kohli also struck a cover drive for a four off Joseph but was quiet otherwise. India suffered another setback just before the break as Shannon Gabriel, who was included in place of Rahkeem Cornwall, had Rahane bowled off an inside edge.
The second game of the series marked the 100th Test between West Indies and India, with both captains being presented with commemorative plaques before the start of the match. There were two debutants in the game, with India getting in pacer Mukesh Kumar in place of Shardul Thakur while left-handed batter McKenzie replaced Raymon Reifer for West Indies.
Brief scores:
India 288/4 (Virat Kohli 87*, Rohit Sharma 80, Yashavi Jaiswal 57; Jason Holder 1-30, Jomel Warrican 1-55) vs West Indies.