Kohli, Rahane take India to commanding position over Windies

Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane’s half centuries strengthened India’s position in the first Test against West Indies, the two performing their leadership duties with aplomb here.

After a career-defining 81 in the first innings, vice-captain Rahane remained unbeaten on 53 while skipper Kohli was batting on 51, as India reached 185 for three at stumps on the third day of their opening World Championship Test on Saturday (August 24).

The visitors enjoyed an overall lead of 260 runs with seven wickets in hand and two full days play remaining.

Dropped on 17 by John Campbell off Kemar Roach’s bowling, Rahane made full use of the life to register his career’s 18th half-century.

Rahane and Kohli’s unbroken fourth-wicket stand yielded 104 runs in 41.4 overs.

India lost three wickets after lunch before Rahane and Kohli joined hands and the duo played without taking any risk to keep the visitors ahead.

Off-spinner Roston Chase was the pick of the bowlers for the hosts, taking two wickets for 69 runs.

Also read: Ishant Sharma puts India on top in first Test against Windies

Opener Mayank Agarwal (16) was the first wicket to fall for India in the second innings, controversially trapped in front by Chase in the 14th over. Although TV replays showed the ball was missing the leg stump, the batsman didn’t go for a review.

After Agarwal’s departure, K L Rahul (38) and Chesteshwar Pujara (25) added 43 runs for the second wicket to take India forward.

Rahul, however, gave away his wicket, bowled by Chase. He went across his stumps while going for a sweep, only to expose all the three stumps and the West Indian spinner succeeded as the batsman failed to connect the ball.

An over later, Roach went through Pujara’s defence to reduce India to 81 for three.

India had earlier taken a healthy 75-run first-innings lead, which had swelled to 89 by lunch.

The visitors bowled out West Indies for 222 in 74.2 overs in their first innings in reply to their 297 all out, with Ishant Sharma returning figures of 5 for 43.

Also read: 1st Test: Rahane’s 81 only saving grace in India 203 for 6 on day 1

Besides Ishant, Mohammed Shami (2/48) and left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja (2/64) scalped two wickets apiece.

For West Indies, Chase top-scored with 48 while skipper Jason Holder played a fighting 39-run knock, as the hosts failed to build up partnerships.

At the opening break of the third day, India were 14 for no loss in their second innings.

Earlier, resuming at overnight 189 for eight, Holder and Miguel Cummins ground it out for 103 balls, forging a 41-run partnership for the ninth wicket to take West Indies closer to the Indian total.

Holder made 39 off 65 balls with the help of five boundaries and even though Cummins could not open his account, he lasted 45 balls to frustrate the Indian bowlers. India needed 85 balls in the opening session to dislodge the duo.

The partnership was finally broken when Holder edged a Mohammed Shami delivery to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant in the 74th over.

Left-arm spinner Jadeja drew the curtains on West Indies innings when he cleaned up Cummins an over later.