India vs Windies: 2nd Test, Day 2, Review- Rahane and Pant shepherd India to safety

The duo is unbeaten with a stand of 146 runs from 38.1 overs.

Published - 13 Oct 2018, 17:44 IST | Updated - 13 Oct 2018, 17:44 IST

3 Min Read

The Windies ended the first day’s play of the second Test in Hyderabad with Roston Chase as their overnight batsmen, but India didn’t take much time in wrapping the visitors’ innings. By the close of play on the second day, the hosts would be the happier side as their middle-order batsman reduced the trial to three runs after being pushed back by the vibrant Windies bowlers.

Shaw shines after Umesh’s brilliance

Chase and Devendra Bishoo resumed the innings with an overnight score of 295/7, however, India bowled the Windies out for 311 runs. Chase went on to score his fifth Test century and was eventually nipped out by Umesh Yadav, who went on to pick six wickets for 88 runs in 26.4 overs. Prithvi Shaw and KL Rahul opened the batting and the former started in an aggressive manner.

Rahul, who didn’t have an auspicious outing in the last match, became circumspect and tried to put his head down. Unfortunately, Jason Holder dismissed him, when the batsman tentatively poked at the ball only to see the leather clatter into the stumps. In the meantime, Shaw accomplished yet another half-century. The home team went into lunch with the score at 80/1 in 16 overs.

Windies strike frequently

The right-handed Shaw looked good for a century and his knock was cut short by left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican. The batsman went for an ambitious drive as was caught by Shimron Hetmyer. In the very next over, fast bowler Shannon Gabriel got rid of Cheteshwar Pujara for 10 runs. After getting off to an impressive start, India found themselves in some sort of trouble.

The onus was thereafter on skipper Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane to steady the ship. Just when it looked as if the duo would guide their team through to Tea, thunder stroke and Holder pinned Kohli in front. The Indian captain resorted to the Decision Review System (DRS), but the decision stood and Kohli had to make the long walk back for 45. At Tea, India were at 173/4 in 47 overs.

Rahane-Pant duo guides India

With six wickets in hand and 138 runs adrift the Windies’ first innings score, India had some work to do. Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant started the session carefully and gradually accelerated as the session went by. Both batsmen went on to score half-centuries and finally helped Virat’s men close to Windies’ score. Rahane hasn’t had the best of times in Test cricket for the last few months.

Nevertheless, he hardly looked flustered and remained not out at 65 at the close of play. Pant, at the other end, trod the attacking route and chanced his arms quite a few times to throw the Windies off their line and lengths. Even the wicketkeeper-batsman curbed his natural instincts and made sure that India don’t suffer any hiccup in the final session of the day.