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PHOTOS: Rampaging India in control after Windies collapse

October 05, 2018

Images from Day 2 of the first Test between India and West Indies in Rajkot on Friday.

IMAGE: A jubilant Ravindra Jadeja after hitting his maiden Test century. Photograph: PTI

West Indies collapsed to 94 for six in reply to India's massive first-innings 649 for nine declared by the close of the second day of the series-opening Test in Rajkot on Friday.

The visiting batsman proved no match for their Indian counterparts, losing six wickets in a single session after the hosts had piled on the runs.

 

India captain Virat Kohli eased to a 24th Test century while Ravindra Jadeja celebrated a maiden ton in front of his home crowd, striking five sixes against a toiling Windies attack.

IMAGE: Ravindra Jadeja, centre, celebrates with team mates after taking the wicket of Sunil Ambris. Photograph: PTI

West Indies will begin day three trailing by 555 runs and facing an uphill task to avoid an innings defeat against India's spin-heavy attack on a pitch already offering turn.

Roston Chase was unbeaten on 27 while Keemo Paul was 13 not out at stumps for the touring side.

Mohammed Shami sent back both openers in a hostile opening spell of fast bowling when West Indies walked out to bat after the tea interval and then India's spinners made further inroads.

IMAGE: India captain Virat Kohli celebrates after completing his century. Photograph: PTI

Earlier, India captain Virat Kohli eased to a 24th Test century while Ravindra Jadeja celebrated a maiden hundred in front of his home crowd as the hosts piled on a massive first innings total in the series-opener.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, however, fell agonisingly short of a second successive ton as India declared their first innings closed on 649 for nine at the tea interval, almost certainly batting the Caribbean side out of the contest.

Kohli was out for 139 while Jadeja remained unbeaten on 100, marking the occasion with a leap in the air followed by his trademark bat-swirling celebration.

IMAGE: Rishabh Pant shattered the West Indies' morale further with a knock of 92 that came off 84 balls. Photograph: PTI

The West Indian bowling attack, missing pace spearhead Kemar Roach and regular captain Jason Holder, appeared bereft of ideas in the face of an Indian onslaught as the home side added 142 runs from 29 overs in the first session.

The hosts continued their brisk scoring rate after lunch, adding another 143 in the second session.

India's batting mainstay Kohli, who started the day on 72, hardly broke sweat in reaching his century, bringing up the mark with a leg-glanced boundary off leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo.

The right-handed batsman hit seven fours in his innings and added 133 for the fifth wicket with Pant, who turned 21 on Thursday, during an entertaining partnership.

IMAGE: Mohammed Shami, right, and Virat Kohli celebrate the wicket of Kieran Powell. Photograph: PTI

After teenage debutant Prithvi Shaw's 134 on the first day, it was Pant who shattered West Indies' morale further on Friday with a knock of 92 that came off 84 balls.

Playing in his fourth Test, the left-hander, who scored 114 in his previous innings against England at The Oval, fell when he got a leading edge off Bishoo to be caught at point eight runs shy of his century.

That was the only moment of success in the first session for the touring side, who face the stiff task of likely having to bat last against India's spin-heavy attack on a pitch already offering some turn.

Kohli fell to debutant paceman Sherman Lewis after adding 64 for the sixth wicket with left-arm spinner Jadeja, who hit five fours and five sixes in his 132-ball unbeaten knock.

Bishoo was the most successful bowler for West Indies with 4-217 and, in worrying signs for their own batsmen, got some balls to turn past the Indians.

The second Test of the two-match series is in Hyderabad from October 12-16.

Source: REUTERS
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