India vs Windies, 1st Test, Day 3, Review: Clinical hosts rout Carribean side by an innings and 272 runs

The loss was inevitable for Windies after conceding 649 runs in the first innings. The only interest was the way they would bat and how long would they sustain in front of India’s world-class spinners. As it turned out, the visiting batsmen put up a shambolic display and were bundled out twice in 98.5 overs in Rajkot. The match ended soon after the tea break on the third day as India went 1-0 up in the series with a thumping victory.

After ending the second day at 94/6, it was only a matter of time when the Indian bowlers were going to clean the tail up on the third morning. Though against all the odds, the duo of Keemo Paul and Roston Chase launched a counterpunch which surprised the hosts. The former was just tonking the ball at will and went on hit a couple of sixes as well. Both added 73 runs for the seventh wicket stand only to broken by Umesh Yadav who scalped Paul on 47.

Ravi Ashwin then cleaned up the remaining wickets quickly to return with the figures of 4/37. Windies could only manage 181 runs in their first innings and Chase was their best batsman who scored a patient 53 off 79 balls proving his mettle in the whites. But he didn’t get enough support from the other end.

The same Story repeats in the second innings

Virat Kohli and Team India decided to enforce the follow-on with a massive lead of 468 runs in their kitty. Many expected a better resistance from the Caribbean batsmen in their second essay and the openers started promisingly. Ashwin, for the umpteenth time in Asia, took the new ball to nip out Kraigg Brathwaite in the eighth over. Shai Hope and Kieran Powell then provided resistance until lunch and also in the second session.

The latter attacked the bowlers clearing his intentions as the duo stitched a partnership of 47 runs. Hope, after looking so good against the spinners until then, misjudged Kuldeep Yadav‘s fuller length delivery and was pinned in front of the stumps. His wicket opened the floodgates with Shimron Hetmyer and Sunil Ambris throwing away their wickets to the same bowler.

Windies crumbled from being comfortable at 79/1 to 97/4 in no time. Meanwhile, Powell continued strongly and notched up his sixth Test half-century. He joined hands with the first innings half-centurion, Chase, as they looked to rebuild. But Chase couldn’t resist his temptation to drive a flighted ball from the chinaman and was sent back on 20. Powell was approaching his century by then but was dismissed again by the youngster. He gave the catch to the short leg fielder after the ball hit the face of his bat.

Soon they were cleaned up as expected with 196 runs on the board. This time around, Ravindra Jadeja ended their misery by picking the last couple of wickets. Kuldeep also picked his maiden five-wicket haul and returned with exceptional figures of 5/57 in the second innings while Ashwin picked a couple more scalps.

A thumping victory by an innings and 272 runs has given a 1-0 lead to India and they will be looking to add more agony on the visitors in the second and final Test match.

Brief Scores

India 649/9decl after 149.5 overs (V Kohli 139, P Shaw 134, R Jadeja 100*; D Bishoo 4/217)

Windies 181 after 48 overs (R Chase 53; R Ashwin 4/37) & 196 after 50.5 overs (K Powell 83; K Yadav 5/57, R Jadeja 3/35)

Result: India won by an innings and 272 runs

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