Reversing their dismal performance in the ongoing Test series, West Indies showcased a terrific performance with the bowl on the third day of the 2nd Test in Hyderabad. Jason Holder’s 5-wicket haul helped his team plucking the remaining six wickets and restricting the hosts to 367 in 106.4 overs. India have taken a lead of 56 runs in the first innings.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane resumed the innings the innings at 308/4. The way they showed patience on the previous day, they gave a hope of scoring centuries but Holder and his bowling unit had some other plans.
The duo stitched the highest partnership of 152 runs which was broken by Jason Holder in the 84th over. Taking the first wicket of the day, the Windies skipper removed Rahane on 80 and a ball later, he sent Ravindra Jadeja, who scored a ton in the previous game, for a 2-ball duck. It was a double-wicket maiden which left the Indians in shock.
Joined by Ashwin, Pant continued some of his hard-hitting as he crossed the 90-run mark for the third consecutive time but seemed to have become the newest victim of the nervous 90s. Like in Rajkot, the 21-year-old threw away his wicket after scoring 92 and had to return to the dressing room with a lot of guilt within.
While least support was received from Kuldeep (6) and Umesh (2), Ashwin withstood for a while and hit the ball across the ground.
Meanwhile, Shardul Thakur, who sustained a groin strain on the first day after bowling 10 deliveries, entered the field to bat. His pain was clearly visible as he was hobbling throughout his stint at the crease but didn’t give up. Instead, he provided a massive support from the other end to his partner.
At the stroke of lunch, Shannon Gabriel hit the last nail in the coffin, removing Ashwin on 35 off 83 and restricting India for 367.
Brief Scores:
West Indies: 311 all out in 101.4 overs.
India: 367 all out in 106.4 overs (Rishabh Pant 92, Ajinkya Rahane 80, Prithvi Shaw 70; Jason Holder 5/56, Shannon Gabriel 3/107)