Windies hold on, chase 289 for victory over India

All possibilities exist for West Indies heading into the final day of the second Test against India at the Queen’s Park Oval in St Clair on Monday.

The hosts closed the penultimate day’s play of the centennial Test between both nations on Sunday, on 76/2, needing 289 runs for victory.

A win, draw or loss for West Indies, remains dependent on their resilience against India’s bowling on the final day.

After dismissing the visitors for 438 on Friday, West Indies were bundled out for 255 on the fourth day, with India holding a comfortable 183-run lead.

India batted again on Sunday and eventually declared on 181/2; setting the hosts a target of 365 for the win, with the evening session and final day’s play on Monday, remaining.

After a gutsy showing on day three, West Indies resumed the fourth day on 229/5 but were rattled in the opening session and lost their remaining five wickets for a meagre 26 runs.

West Indies eventually capitulated for 255, trailing the Indians’ first innings tally of 438, by 183 runs.

At the resumption, India showed early intent as fast bowler Mukesh Kumar had key West Indies batsman Alick Athanaze trapped leg-before without adding a run to his overnight score. He made 37, but it was another commendable showing by the Dominican left-hander in only his second Test.

Alzarri Joseph joined Holder in the middle but the latter could only add four runs to his overnight score as pacer Mohammed Siraj had him caught behind by Ishan Kishan.

At 233/7, Siraj proved detrimental to West Indies’ lower order and easily removed the remaining batsmen Alzarri Joseph (four), Kemar Roach (four) and Shannon Gabriel courtesy a golden duck.

West Indies were all out for 255, less than one hour into the day’s play. Siraj’s career best of 5/60 served as India’s main destroyer while Ravindra Jadeja (2/37) and Kumar (2/48) also had good contributions.

With a firm lead of 183, India returned to the Oval middle and openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and skipper Rohit Sharma turned up the ante with the bat.

As early in as the first over, Jaiswal stepped down the wicket and drove Roach over extra cover for six and then flicked him for four off the next ball.

Sharma followed suit and edged Joseph for four off his first delivery in the second over. He plastered Roach for another maximum in the next over and then drove Joseph to deep point for four and pulled him for six, in the following over.

Holder replaced Roach and was almost immediately rewarded but Gabriel dropped a catch from Sharma at deep mid-off. The very next over, he was dropped again, this time by debutant Kirk McKenzie at square-leg.

Sharma and Jaiswal continued on fearlessly and the skipper achieved yet another half-century by pulling Gabriel for four. However, Gabriel would get his man as Sharma played into the hands of Joseph to depart on a quick-fire 57 from 44 balls.

As Shubman Gill entered, the heavens opened and forced an over one-hour break, which the umpires used as lunch, and resumed at around 1pm.

Four balls in, spinner Jomel Warrican delivered a slower ball which encouraged Jaiswal to sweep, but the ball took a top edge and landed safely into wicketkeeper Joshua DaSilva’s gloves to send India to 102/4.

Ishan joined Gill and the pair carried India to 181/2 declared, which set West Indies a target of 365 runs to win.

In the process, Ishan scored his maiden half-century by lifting Roach for back-to-back sixes in the 24th and final over, before declaring. Ishan made an impressive 52 not out from 34 balls while Gill scored 29 from 37.

Set at 365 for victory, West Indies openers Tagenarine Chanderpaul and skipper Brathwaite had a positive start with the latter taking a liking to Siraj’s pace and driving him for four between mid-off and cover, then through point.

The pair looked confident and had an improved strike rate compared to their previous innings. Their rate slowed around the tenth over but the duo seemed destined to bat out the day.

But it was not to be. Against a spinning Ashwin delivery, Brathwaite tried to sweep but top-edged the ball into Jaydev Undakat’s hands. He made 28 from 52 balls. McKenzie joined Chanderpaul at the crease.

Chanderpaul then drove left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja to deep extra cover to get his first boundary of the innings. However, McKenzie’s inexperience showed and was smartly tapped leg-before wicket by Ashwin’s spin, in the next over, to send West Indies to 44/2.

Jermaine Blackwood entered and he and Chanderpaul breathed new life into the innings.

The Jamaican/Guyanese combination bolstered the innings to 76/2 at the close of play, with both players executing some fine shots in the fading light, to positively aid their chase of potential victory.

The final day bowls off from 10am.

Scores:

INDIA 438 (Virat Kohli 121, Rohit Sharma 80, Ravendra Jadeja 61, Yashasvi Jaiswal 57, Ravichandran Ashwin 56, Ishan Kishan 25; Jomel Warrican 3-89, Kemar Roach 3-104, Jason Holder 2-57) and 181 for two decl. (Rohit Sharma 57, Ishan Kishan 52 not out, Yashasvi Jaiswal 38, Shubman Gill 29 not out)

WEST INDIES 255 (Kraigg Brathwaite 75, Alick Athanaze 37, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 33, Kirk McKenzie 32, Jermaine Blackwood 20; Mohammed Siraj 5-60, Ravendra Jadeja 2-37, Mukesh Kumar 2-48) and 76 for two (Kraigg Brathwaite 28, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 24 not out)