Dowrich shines but Windies battling to avoid defeat
NORTH SOUND, Antigua, CMC – Wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich struck his second half-century in only his third Test but West Indies were staring at a possible innings defeat after being forced to followon by India, on the second day of the opening Test here yesterday.
Resuming the day on 31 for one, the Caribbean side were bundled out for 243 in reply to India’s massive 566 for eight declared, to trail by 323 runs on first innings at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.
They crashed to 144 for seven in the final session but the 24-yearold
Dowrich stroked a classy unbeaten 57 and captain Jason Holder hit a fluent 36 to prop up the innings.
Opener Kraigg Brathwaite had earlier carried his overnight unbeaten 14 to a top score of 74, and took the fight to the Indians for the better part of two sessions.
But the innings was undermined by seamers Umesh Yadav (4-41) and fellow seamer Mohammed Shami (4-66) who finished with four wickets apiece while leg-spinner Amit Mishra claimed two for 43.
In their second turn at the crease, West Indies were plunged into strife as early as the opening over when Brathwaite was lbw to pacer Ishant Sharma for two with the score two, missing one that came back and struck him on the back leg.
Darren Bravo, unbeaten on 10 and opener Rajendra Chandrika, on nine, saw West Indies safely to the close, still requiring a further 302 runs to make India bat again.
Needing a huge batting effort to make inroads into their deficit at the start, West Indies made it through the first hour without losing a wicket as Brathwaite and nightwatchman Devendra Bishoo (12) extended their second wicket stand to 38 before being separated.
Bishoo, yet to score at the start of play, frustrated India for over an hour, facing 43 balls and striking two fours before falling in the fourth over after the first drinks break, on 68 for two.
The left-hander missed a crossbatted shot at Mishra and was