India skipper Virat kohli played a careful crafted innings of 76 to power India to 264/5 at stumps after top-order's dismal show on the opening day of the second Test at Sabina Park on Friday. India young opener Mayank Agarwal (55 off 127 balls), who brought up his third half century after lunch, stressed India were happy to lose just five wickets on the opening day in Jamaica.
"I thought the first session - the ball was doing a bit. Kemar Roach and Holder bowled great areas. It wasn't easy - there was a lot of moisture and the ball was doing a bit," Agarwal said. "I think Holder is bowling great areas, he is not giving you an inch. He is there pegging in those areas, pegging on length and short of length. And you know he doesn't give free deliveries for you to score off of.
"So, the pressure is always there even if you defend him off - the first spell he bowled six-seven overs in that he's given three or four maidens, so as a batsman you know you're not getting much out of him. We are in a great position. To have just lost five wickets on a track like that was a good effort from our side."
Agarwal also praised debutant Rahkeem Cornwall for bowling well. Cornwall took the advantage of the pitch to bowl some good deliveries as he also bagged the important wicket of Cheteshwar Pujara.
"Rakheem is very, very [consistent], he forms good clusters and he keeps bowling those areas, keeps bowling those areas. I thought it wasn't very easy to score off him. We took our time and it was very important for Virat and me to actually get a partnership going and it was important that one of us went on to score big," Agarwal pointed out. "He definitely gets a lot more bounce compared to many other spinners. He just keeps hitting those lengths."
"I can say it got a little better to bat on after the first session, the wicket got a lot harder as the sun beat down, the wicket lost some of its moisture. It just kept getting a little better to bat on, but I think credit must be given to the West Indian bowlers, especially Roach and Holder - they kept coming and kept coming and kept bowling tight lines," Agarwal said.