Wicketkeeper-batsman Dhruv Jurel and Ravindra Jadeja hit half-centuries to stretch India’s lead to 164 against the West Indies on day two of the first Test on Friday.
A dominant India reached 326-4 at tea after the hosts lost KL Rahul for 100 in the first over of the second session at the world’s biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad.
Advertisement
Jurel, on 68, and the left-handed Jadeja (50) then put on an unbeaten stand of 108 to further grind down the West Indies bowlers.
Jurel raised his second Test fifty with a boundary off Justin Greaves and celebrated with a salute to the Indian dressing room.
Jadeja hit four sixes en route to his fifty on a pitch that already seems to be breaking away.
A delivery from Jomel Warrican snaked past Jadeja at ankle length after hitting a rough patch formed due to bowlers’ footmarks.
Advertisement
Warrican had Rahul caught at short extra-cover with his left-arm spin on the fifth ball after lunch.
The opener did not trouble the scorers after reaching his 11th Test century.
Rahul reached the ton in the morning, kissing the India flag on his helmet and getting applause from the few hundred fans sprinkled in a sea of orange seats at the 132,000-capacity stadium.
Starting the day on 121-2 in response to West Indies’ 162, Rahul and skipper Shubman Gill, who made 50, put on 98 runs to pile on the agony against the opposition bowlers.
Advertisement
The two overnight batters had a few nervy moments.
Rahul survived a reprieve on 57 when an edge from his bat went between the wicketkeeper and slip in the first over.
Rahul, who started the day on 53, hit regular boundaries with his exquisite timing and technique.
Gill looked to find his mojo after a cautious start and reached his eighth Test fifty with a single off debutant spinner Khary Pierre.
The captain soon got out to skipper Roston Chase’s off-spin after he attempted a reverse sweep but lobbed it to Greaves at slip.
India are hot favourites to sweep the two-Test series.
fk/pst
Article courtesy of
Source link
