Amid the poor run of West Indies in the ongoing Test series against India, there was only one man who came up with flying colours in Hyderabad. With Roston Chase’s century, the Caribbean hosts were able to put up a competitive total of 311 runs on the board.
It was the fourth Test century for Chase – second against India – which came after he had scored a battling 53 in Rajkot. His previous 3 tons were scored at home, two of them against Pakistan in consecutive Tests in 2017.
“I was pleased with my performance. I wanted to go bigger, as I always do. It’s never enough runs for a batsman, but Umesh got the better of me today. But I’m still pleased with the century, my first century away from home, so it’s a special one for me,” said Chase after the day’s play.
Indeed Umesh got better of him as he restricted the top-scoring West Indian and ended up with his best bowling figures in Test cricket – 6/88.
Speaking about the unbeaten 146-run partnership between Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant, Chase said,“I just think that was their strategy, to really go hard with the young guy because that is his natural game, and make it easier for the other guys coming in after him. We tried to contain the batsmen. We set more defensive fields and tried to put more pressure back on them after they got the quick start and it paid off for us. But then, we had a few lapses in the field and that really cost it.”
“I just think that’s their strategy, to go hard at the start with the young guy, because that’s his natural game, and then it’s just easier for the other guys coming in after him,” he added.