West Indies v India, 2nd Test – 5 Moments of the match

The second match of the four-Test series between West Indies and India ended in a draw at Sabina Park. With the hosts already one down in the series, they knew they had to up a good fight to stay on course. And to do so, they elected to bat first, expecting to put up a mammoth first-innings total on the board. The tactic backfired as the visitors yet again put up a clinical bowling performance and Windies were folded for 196.

India went on to declare their innings with 500 runs on the board, courtesy KL Rahul’s 158 and an unbeaten 108 from Ajinkya Rahane. They seemed well on their to seal the match as the hosts were down to 4/48 at one stage in their second innings, but a magnificent innings from Roston Chase helped the home side save the match.

1. Ishant Sharma’s kick-start for India:

Ishant Sharma started off the proceedings for the visitors on Day 1 sharing the new ball with Mohammad Shami. After losing the toss, India had to start well and Ishant did exactly that with a couple of wickets early in the match that gave India the advantage to start with.

Ishant used the bounce off the pitch well and got one into the ribs of Kraigg Brathwaite who fend at it to give Cheteshwar Pujara a simple catch at forward-short-leg. With the very next ball, he sent Darren Bravo back to the pavilion. He nicked it to Virat Kohli at second slip.

Stats and records – West Indies v India 2nd Test, Day 5 – Statistical Highlights

2. Roston Chase’s 5-for:

India was well above the first innings total of West Indies of 196 and skipper Kohli refused to declare even after India losing the 8th wicket. Meanwhile, the delayed declaration helped Roston Chase complete his maiden five-for in Test cricket.

Chase was had 4-wickets after the dismissal of Mohammad Shami and a lot of them expected India to declare but Kohli sent the next batsman, Umesh Yadav in. Umesh’s intentions were quite clear as he was looking for some quick runs and scored 19 off 14 with 4 boundaries, before presenting chase his maiden five-wicket haul and India declared at that moment.

3. Ajinkya Rahane’s knock:

Ajinkya Rahane couldn’t start the series on a high being dismissed early in both the innings of the first Test. He corrected things and dominated the proceedings this time round to bring up his 7th Test century.

India was in need of another characteristic knock after KL Rahul’s 158 at the top of the order to stretch the lead further. After losing Wriddhiman Saha’s wicket, the Indian vice-captain batted along with the tail to get the team a 304-run lead.

Also read – WI v IND, 2nd Test Review: Roston Chase saves West Indies with a classy century

4. Ian Gould got it wrong:

Shane Dowrich and Roston Chase added 144 runs for the 6th wicket in the second innings and this partnership was the one that took the team to safety.

Dowrich was batting well on 74 when Ian Gould raised his finger to a leg-before-wicket appeal from Amit Mishra. Replays showed that the batsman had a big inside edge on the flat leg-spinner from Mishra. Dowrich played for the turn, but the ball didn’t turn as much as he had expected but he did manage to get an inside edge but only for the umpire to adjudge him out.

5. Rain ruining 123 overs play:

The rain surely had a decisive say in the match. More than a day’s play was washed off. As many as 123 overs were lost in the match, despite the early start of play.

At the end of the match, West Indies had 84 runs lead with 4 wickets in hand and if all the overs were bowled all three results would have been possible. Last time a Test match ended in a draw at the Sabina Park before was in 1998 between West Indies and England. Since then 15 consecutive Test matches at this venue had produced a result.

Also read – Virat Kohli commends the performance of West Indies batsmen