India take charge

North Sound, Antigua – West Indies reverted to a familiar, albeit frustrating theme yesterday, producing a feeble batting effort to leave powerhouses India in control after the second day of the opening Test at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.

Replying to India’s first innings of 297, the home side were tottering on 189 for eight at the close, still 108 runs in arrears heading into today’s pivotal day three.

Roston Chase top-scored with an attractive 48 and Shimron Hetmyer got 35 but both were dismissed in a wretched final session in which West Indies lost five wickets while adding 107 runs.

Much of the damage was done in the day’s final 25 deliveries when veteran seamer Ishant Sharma unleashed a devastating salvo to claim the wickets of Shai Hope (24), Hetmyer and tail-ender Kemar Roach (0) to finish with five for 42.

Ravindra Jadeja had earlier led an India fightback with a valiant 58 as the visitors were dismissed on the stroke of lunch, after resuming the day on 203 for six.

Starting the morning on three, the right-hander struck six fours and a six to ensure India added 94 runs in the first session.

The final score represented an excellent turnaround for the visitors, whose innings lay in ruins at 25 for three inside the first 45 minutes of Thursday’s opening day, after they were asked to bat first. (CMC)