It proved to be a fairly easy task for the Indian team as they completed the first Test against the West Indies in Dominica in just three days on Friday, 14 July, winning by an innings and 141 runs. Yashasvi Jaiswal’s brilliant 171 on debut and veteran spinner R Ashwin’s 12/131 in the game led to a -0 lead, his career-best overseas performance Rohit Sharma & Co. will look to end the series in Trinidad next week.
After the hosts were bowled out for 150 in the first innings, much was written about the result and centuries from both Indian openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and skipper Rohit Sharma didn’t help their cause one bit. The two put on a marathon opening partnership of 229, which was India’s best ever partnership in the Caribbean, setting the stage for what was to come. Rohit was dismissed shortly after scoring his 10th Test century while Jaiswal moved on.
Jaiswal finds an able ally Virat Kohli, who was in no hurry and took all his time to settle down and was alert throughout his innings. Jaiswal and Kohli gave India a lead of 162 at stumps on the second day. Jaiswal was dismissed for 171 in the first session, the third highest by an Indian on debut, but Kohli continued.
reinstated as vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane before Kohli was dismissed for just three runs and Ravindra Jadeja India’s score crossed 400 and took a lead of over 250. India waited for Kohli to complete his century before declaring the innings. However, when he was dismissed for 76, skipper Rohit Sharma waited for another half an hour so that Jadeja and debutant Ishan Kishan could add some quick runs. But Kishan played 20 balls to open his account and ruined the plans of the visiting team to get a lead of 300 runs and Team India declared the innings at 421/5 with a lead of 271 runs.
The first innings script was largely followed by both the Indian bowlers and the West Indies batsmen. Alyque Athanaz looked his best on debut jason holder Showed little fight and R Ashwin took two more wickets than in the first innings as he is now equal to Rangana Herath with 34 five-wicket hauls in Test cricket.
This was Ashwin’s 8th 10 wicket haul in a match and now he is equal to Anil Kumble.
Most 10 wickets in a match in test cricket
12 – Muttiah Muralitharan
10 – Shane Warne
9 – Richard Hadlee
9 – Rangana Herath
8- R Ashwin
8- Anil Kumble
Most five-wicket haul in a Test innings
67 – Muttiah Muralitharan
37 – Shane Warne
36 – Richard Hadlee
35 – Anil Kumble
34- R Ashwin
34 – Rangana Herath
Team India will be hoping to win the series 2-0 and make a good start in the new World Test Championship cycle.