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Kingston, August 31
Hanuma Vihari scored his maiden Test century while Ishant Sharma struck his career’s first half-century as India were bowled out for 416 in their first innings at tea on the second day of the second Test against West Indies. Vihari made a career-best 111 off 225 balls with the help of 16 boundaries to hold India’s innings together. Ishant (57) and Vihari shared 112 runs for the eighth wicket partnership to take India to a commanding position.
Coming on to bat at the overnight score of 42, Vihari held one end together to keep India afloat after being sent in to bat. Resuming at the overnight score of 264/5, India lost Rishabh Pant (27) on the opening delivery of the day. Pant was cleaned up by West Indies skipper Jason Holder (4/62) with an inswinger as the batsman leaned for a drive.
Thereafter, Vihari and Ravindra Jadeja shared 38 runs off exactly 10 overs for the seventh wicket partnership. Jadeja played a patient knock of 16 off 69 balls but just when it was time to carry on, he top-edged a Rahkeem Cornwall (2/97) delivery to Darren Bravo at mid-on while going for a big slog.
Vihari reached his maiden Test ton in 200 balls with the help of a single off Roach in the 133rd over. Ishant reached his maiden Test half-century off 69 balls with a single off Cornwall in the 136th over. After the fall of Ishant and Mohammed Shami (0) Vihari ran out of patience and played a lofted shot, only to hole out to Roach, handing Holder his fifth wicket of the innings.
Jadeja better than Ashwin
Ravindra Jadeja’s improved batting and more control on a flat deck has prompted his selection ahead of a champion bowler like Ravichandran Ashwin in the playing XI against the West Indies, India’s head coach Ravi Shastri said. “Look at Jaddu, his record is fabulous. He is probably the best fielder in the world now and he has improved his batting like hell,” Shastri told former England spinner Graeme Swann during an interview for host broadcaster. — Agencies
140KG Off-spinning all-rounder Rahkeem Cornwall, who made his Test debut for WI on Friday, has become the heaviest cricketer to play international cricket. Cornwall, who is 6’6” tall and weighs around 140kg, surpassed former Australia captain Warwick Armstrong, who weighed 133-139 kg, to achieve the feat. Armstrong played 50 Tests between 1902 and 1921, leading Australia in 10 of them
1ST 100-plus partnership for Ishant Sharma in Tests. Excluding his one 100-run partnership, he has 8 50-run partnerships in Tests
SCOREBOARD
INDIA
KL Rahul c Cornwall b Holder 13
M Agarwal c Cornwall b Holder 55
C Pujara c Brooks b Cornwall 6
V Kohli c Hamilton b Holder 76
A Rahane c Hamilton b Roach 24
H Vihari c Roach b Holder 111
R Pant b Holder 27
R Jadeja c Bravo b Cornwall 16
I Sharma c Hetmyer b Brathwaite 57
M Shami c Hamilton b Cornwall 0
J Bumrah not out 0
Extras: (B-11, LB-19 W-1) 31
Total: (All out; 140.1 overs) 416
Fall of wickets: 1-32, 2-46, 3-115,
4-164, 5-202, 6-264, 7-302, 8-414,
9-416, 10-416
Bowling
Kemar Roach 30-9-77-1
Shanon Gabriel 21-4-74-0
Jason Holder 32.1-9-77-5
Rahkeem Cornwall 41-10-105-3
Roston Chase 14-4-45-0
Kraigg Brathwaite 2-0-8-1 at tea
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