WI vs IND: 1st Test – Jadeja fifty, Ishant five-for put India in command on Day 2

Day 2 of the first Test between West Indies and India at North Sound belonged whole-heartedly to Ishant Sharma. First, he chipped in with 19 crucial runs alongside half-centurion Ravindra Jadeja to help India put up 297. Later, he bowled a scintillating last spell to finish with a five-wicket haul, as West Indies collapsed to 189/8 at stumps. Rain interruptions continued to hamper the day’s play.

India resumed with an overnight total of 203/6, with Rishabh Pant and Jadeja at the crease. West Indies straightaway brought Kemar Roach into the attack and he returned with an early breakthrough. Pant (24) got a good start, but couldn’t resist the temptation of pushing at a full delivery at second slip. He added just four runs to his score from Day 1.

Check the full scorecard here.

Jadeja-Ishant dig in

However, it was Jadeja’s resolve yet again that brought stability to the Indian batting. Along with Ishant holding the fort at one end, the all-rounder kept the scoreboard ticking and notched his 11th Test fifty. Both batsmen added 60 runs for the eighth wicket, the third-highest partnership of India’s innings.

Ishant’s impressive stay at the crease ended when Shannon Gabriel castled him with a slower off-cutter in the 90th over. India were 267/8 when he departed and soon lost Mohammed Shami in the next over. Jasprit Bumrah (4) and Jadeja added 30 more runs before West Indies bundled the visitors.

WI batsmen lose steam

West Indies were off to a steady start as openers Kraigg Brathwaite (14) and John Campbell (23) put up a 36-run opening stand. But that was soon broken by Mohammed Shami, who in his first over bowled a deadly yorker that Campbell inside-edge onto the stumps. Ishant then came back hunting with the ball, taking a superb reflex catch off his own bowling to send Brathwaite packing. Jadeja got into the act, getting rid of the debutant Shamarh Brooks and West Indies were reeling at 50/3.

With the team in tatters, it was down to senior batsman Darren Bravo and the rest of the middle order. Bravo started fiercely, scoring two fours and a six for his 18 but couldn’t survive the onslaught from Jasprit Bumrah. A length ball from Bumrah struck him plumb in front and the umpire raised his finger without a second thought. Bravo went for the review, only to walk back disappointed after West Indies lost it. Bumrah became the fastest Indian bowler to take 50 Test wickets, doing so in just 11 Test appearances.

Chase builds, Ishant destructs

Roston Chase was probably the only Windies batsman who looked in control of his batting throughout. He scored a vital 48 and kept the scoreboard ticking alongside Bravo and later, Shai Hope. Chase added 42 runs with Hope before Ishant struck again to remove the set batsman and get India a much-needed breakthrough. Hope (24) and Shimron Hetmyer (35), who was slated to bat at No.7, continued to rebuild and put up a 44-run stand.

It was towards the end of the day that Ishant really turned the heat on the Windies. In a fiery final spell, he struck thrice in two consecutive overs to dismiss both set batsmen and then Kemar Roach. All the hosts could do was watch their batsmen return to the dressing room in succession. With Jason Holder still at the crease, West Indies would hope to get as close as they can to the Indian total.