West Indies regular after Kohli’s first away Test ton in 5 years

West Indies 86 for 1 (Brathwaite 37*, Jadeja 1-12) path India 438 (Kohli 121, Rohit 80, Jadeja 61, Ashwin 56, Warrican 3-89) by 352 runs

Virat Kohli made his first away Test century in nearly 5 years, and Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin helped themselves to half-centuries, as India piled up 438 in Port-of-Spain. In reply, West Indies began slowly however solidly, with captain Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul liable for the hosts’ first half-century partnership within the collection. But Jadeja struck 20 minutes earlier than stumps to have Chanderpaul carving a catching to Ashwin. Brathwaite and debutant Kirk McKenzie, who’s taking part in solely his tenth first-class sport, then safely negotiated a tough passage of play, with West Indies nonetheless 352 runs behind.

Earlier, Kohli regarded like changing his hundred into an enormous one till Alzarri Joseph’s athletic intervention ran him out for 121. Jadeja regarded set for 100 of his personal, however Kemar Roach eliminated him for 61. Both in a single day batters fell in an area of six overs, however Ashwin marshalled the tail and took India in the direction of 450.

The Queen’s Park Oval pitch – and the outfield – had slowed down even additional on day two however that did not stop Kohli from pinging the boundary together with his punchy drives. One of these drives, which was crunched behind level off Shannon Gabriel, introduced Kohli his 76th hundred in his five hundredth worldwide match. Three balls later, Jadeja reached his fifty and celebrated it together with his signature sword dance.

Another Kohli drive, this day off Jason Holder within the 92nd over, was among the many contenders for the shot of the match. When Holder served up a half-volley on the stumps, Kohli had initially formed to flick it away by way of midwicket, however he ended up half-flicking and half-driving it previous mid-off with nice authority. There was one other drive that he drilled so straight that it knocked out the center stump on the non-striker’s finish.

Jadeja was extra circumspect, however he mixed nicely with Kohli to steal singles and doubles from proper beneath the noses of the West Indian fielders. However, the 159-run fifth-wicket stand ended when an uncharacteristic second of hesitation between the wickets resulted in Kohli getting run out. Joseph swooped on the ball from sq. leg and capitalised on the prospect. Soon after, Roach dangled out a large ball and had Jadeja edging a drive behind.

After Ashwin had bedded in with back-to-back drives off Gabriel, West Indies’ quicks peppered him with quick balls. But Ashwin used the bounce to his benefit and created scoring alternatives. When Roach saved banging it quick – however not quick sufficient – exterior off, Ashwin leant again and ramped him over slip for a pair of fours. He then introduced up his fifty with a slapped 4 off an identical quick ball from Roach. With No. 11 Mukesh Kumar for firm, Ashwin backed away and tried to rustle up extra boundaries, however Roach knocked him over together with his slower variation. Roach and Warrican completed with three wickets every earlier than West Indies’ openers settled in.

Chanderpaul, specifically, needed to grind for his runs within the early exchanges. He took 58 balls to attain his first boundary and transfer into double figures. When Ashwin erred down the leg aspect, Chanderpaul put him away with the sweep. He then countered Mohammed Siraj’s bouncers with the hook.

Both Chanderpaul and Brathwaite had been joyful to depart something large of off stump on a observe that did not supply a lot help to seamers or spinners. Brathwaite had glanced Siraj and whipped Jadeja for fours however wasn’t as assured in opposition to Ashwin who bought one to float previous his exterior edge from over the wicket.

It was Jadeja who produced the breakthrough within the thirty fifth over. After bowling 36 balls on the trot to Brathwaite, Jadeja had a crack at Chanderpaul and together with his second ball to the left-hander, he drew a thick edge that looped to backward level. McKenzie introduced himself in Test cricket with a six off Ashwin after which caressed Jadeja by way of additional cowl for 4 to assist West Indies finish the day in a assured method.