Rahkeem Cornwall's' dream debut, half-centuries from Mayank Agarwal [55] and Virat Kohli [76], Jason Holder's persistence and consistency with the ball, headlined the opening day of the 2nd Test between India and West Indies at the Sabina Park, as the Men in Blue finished the proceedings at 5-264.
Here's what happened on Day 01:-
Morning Session: Cornwall gets his maiden Test wicket as India moved to 2-72
Status: 2-72; Shared
With the pitch boasting off green grass, Captain Holder decided to put the Indians in, but for the first 30 minutes, his bowlers kept searching for the ideal line and length for the track, and in return gave the openers plenty of half volleys to deal with. With Gabriel walking off the field within the first 30 minutes of play, West Indies needed some inspiration, and they got it via their skipper Jason Holder, who got a back-of-a-length delivery to move in sharply, to open KL Rahul completely and take an outside edge off his bat.
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Jason Holder introduced debutant Rahkeem Cornwall before the first drinks session and the big off-spinner didn't take much time to get his maiden Test match wicket, that too of India's No.3 and probably one of the best batsmen of spin bowling going around: Cheteshwar Pujara, when the latter in an attempt to cut a shortish ball from Cornwall ended up hitting straight to Brooks.
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The next 23 overs after Rahul's dismissal saw Team India score just 40 runs with Virat Kohli surviving a close LBW call initially before he and Agarwal took the visitors to 2-72 by the end of the first morning.
Afternoon Session: Agarwal completes his 3rd fifty before Kohli-Rahane consolidate
Status: 1-85; Won by India
The Windies could not maintain the same discipline in the first 30-minutes of the Post-Lunch session. Holder started off the proceedings with Gabriel and Cornwall. With Gabriel unable to find his line, Kohli and Agarwal cashed in some loose deliveries.
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Kemar Roach could have had Mayank in his first over after Lunch when the ball came back in sharply and nearly got through the latter defenses. Agarwal made the most of his luck and got to his 3rd Test half-century with a softly deflected shot piercing the gap between the cordon to third-man. Roach's tryst with bad luck continued as Agarwal successfully reviewed what looked like a caught-behind, only to see it get reversed with the bat clearly hitting the pad.
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Agarwal's luck finally ran out and once again it was captain Holder who helped give his side a much-needed reprieve, when Mayank, in an attempt to punch the bowler off the backfoot ended up edging it to Cornwall at first slip. Holder tested both Kohli and Rahane before the settled into another partnership of substance. Kohli played some cracking shots; none better than the cover-drives that he hit off Gabriel, and soon crossed his 22nd half-century while Rahane looked his usual self as the tourists moved past the 150-mark going into the Tea break.
Tea Break: Holder gets Kohli but Pant-Vihari ensure no further hiccups
Status: 2-107; Shared
The West Indies desperately needed a breakthrough early in the 3rd session and they duly got it courtesy Rahane's penchant to feel for deliveries, he had no business bothering about. The resultant outside edge was taken by Hamilton as Roach finally got a much-deserved breakthrough. Roach could have had two in the over when he pinned Kohli in front of stumps with a nip-backer, had it not been for the Umpires' Call.
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Kohli shrugged off the close call with two sumptuous straight drives off Cornwall in the very next over. India crossed the 200-run mark soon but, just as the Indian skipper was looking good for his 26th Test hundred, Jason Holder (Yep! That man again) saw the back of his counterpart when he got the latter edge it to wicket-keeper Hamilton. India 5-202.
Hanuma Vihari, meanwhile looked very solid at the crease, continuing from his good work in the last Test. He was joined by Rishabh Pant at the crease, and with captain Holder out of the field, the Windies resorted to spin from both ends despite the new ball being available, allowing the duo to settle into a partnership.
With just seven overs left in the day, West Indies finally took the new cherry but a combination of wayward bowling by Gabriel and a defiant 50 run stand between Vihari and Pant ensured India went to stumps unscathed with the latter stroking two boundaries in the last over to take the score to 5-264 at the close of play.
Moment of the day
Mayank Agarwal reaching his 3rd Test fifty.
Player of the day: Jason Holder (20-6-39-3)
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As he has done for the entirety of his career, Jason Holder proved to be the man for the crisis for the West Indies. On a day where his lead bowlers- especially Gabriel- failed to find the perfect length, Holder's bowling was a testimony to his perseverance and relentlessness as a bowler to constantly challenge the batsman on a short of a good length; one that helped him to get crucial wickets of Rahul, Agarwal and his counterpart Virat Kohli.
What to expect from Day 02?
The West Indies have no option but to take wickets tomorrow morning while Pant and Vihari will look to see out the first half-an-hour and cash in on the starts they've got and take the team total past the 350-run mark or even 400.
Brief Score-
India (5-264, Virat Kohli 76, Agarwal 55, Vihari 42*, ) vs West Indies at stumps on Day 01