India vs Windies, 2nd Test, Day 1 Review: Chase and Holder comfort the visitors after an early slump

When Windies lost the fifth wicket with just 113 runs on the board on Day 1 of the second Test match, it seemed as if it was a new day but the same story was unfolding. However, a brilliant fight by all-rounder Roston Chase and skipper Jason Holder ensured that they have enough runs on the board to feel comfortable. Though they lost seven wickets 295 is a really good score at the end of the day.

It started with Jason Holder making a comeback to the team and at the toss. He called the right side and decided to bat first on a good-looking track at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Team India made one changes to the XI deciding to rest Mohammed Shami and Shardul Thakur was handed his maiden Test cap.

The pacer who has been in the ranks for a while now got the new, hard, red ball in his hand but could only bowl 10 deliveries before hobbling off the field with a strain in his groin. That left the Indian team with just one new ball bowler and three spinners. Ravichandran Ashwin shared the responsibility with Umesh Yadav as Windies somewhat managed a decent start.

The fact that the ball wasn’t doing much helped Kraigg Brathwaite and Kieran Powell’s cause as they managed to play out the first 10 overs. But Ashwin once again struck with the new ball when Powell hit the ball straight to Ravindra Jadeja at covers. Brathwaite along with Shai Hope took the team total over 50 but soon succumbed to chinaman Kuldeep Yadav who spun it back into the batsman who had no clue.

Yadavs strike for India

Brathwaite was playing for the away going delivery and it hit him plumb in front of the stumps. In the meantime, Hope at the other end had settled in, was playing well and trying to get a better feel of the pitch. But just at the stroke of lunch, the batsman missed an incoming delivery from Umesh who was charing in his second spell and Hope was dismissed for 36.

Kuldeep bowled a lot better in the afternoon and didn’t give away easy runs, the number of short deliveries was very marginal. The fact that Ashwin at the other end was giving away runs with an economy under 2 also helped up build the pressure. He beat Hetmyer with a wrong’un as he tried to pad the delivery but was doing that right in front of the wickets and it proved to be one of the easier decisions for the umpire. Soon after, he dismissed Sunil Ambris for 18 and Windies were in deep trouble with half their side back in the hut.

This brought Chase out in the middle and he stitched a partnership with Shane Dowrich, their 69-run stand promised to take them over the 200-run mark but the latter fell on 30 when the team’s total was 183. An important feature of the Windies batting today was the fact that the batsmen were willing to spend time on the wicket, they were in no hurry, not trying to play too many shots. With little on offer from the pitch, the bowlers had to earn the wicket on the merit of the delivery.

Chase-Holder give Windies hope

Jason Holder who many believe is a far better batsman than someone who bats at No.8 put his hand up and partnered Chase. The duo had a huge task ahead of them being the last recognized pair. Chase used his height to great effect, stretching forward to defend the ball and it was his defensive technique that stood out against the quality Indian bowling attack. He got to his half century while the skipper was on 10 as they went into tea with 197 runs on the board for the loss of six.

What followed was a 104-run partnership for the seventh wicket. The duo batted exceptionally against all the three Indian spinners as well as Umesh, they used their feet well and played their shots whenever there was a possibility of pulling one off. Chase, in particular, continued his dream run with the bat against India, having scored his maiden century against the same team.

Holder fell on the last ball of the 90th over gloving a short delivery on the leg side from Umesh; a really unlucky dismissal. That was the pacer’s 3rd wicket having bowled much better with the older ball. The Windies skipper did play his part with another half century and his 52 had taken the team well over the 250-run mark.

As the Indian spinners operated for the major part of the day the over rate was higher than expected and the hosts bowled 5 more than the stipulated 90 overs. At stumps on day 1, Chase was batting on 98 with Bishoo and they have 295 runs on the board for the loss of 7 wickets.

Brief Scores:

Windies – 295/7 (Roston Chase 98*, Jason Holder 52; Kuldeep Yadav 3/74, Umesh Yadav 3/83)

For all the latest cricket news and other updates follow CricTracker.