Windies collapse, India seal series
Umesh takes maiden 10wicket haul as hosts record their 10th successive home series victory
When West Indies skipper Jason Holder took the second new ball to begin proceedings on Sunday morning, few would have thought the second Test would get over in three days. But 16 wickets fell on the third day to ensure that.
India were 308 for four with Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant on the verge of a 150-run stand. The hosts eyed a substantial lead in the hope of scoring an innings win. But Holder’s fifer, which took his average (11.87) temporarily to the top among bowlers with 30 or more wickets in a calendar year in the past 100 years, restricted India’s lead to just 56 runs. The average fell off the perch after he failed to get a wicket in the second innings.
West Indies thought they were in the match after restricting India to 367. But their batting faltered again on a track that did not offer much to the bowlers, folding for 127 in second essay giving India a meagre 72-run target with Umesh Yadav bagging his maiden 10-wicket match haul.
India completed their 10th successive series win at home with a 10-wicket victory. Prithvi Shaw and KL Rahul both were unbeaten on 33. India have not lost a home series since their defeat to England in 2012.
Holder struck twice in his second over of the morning. First he got Rahane caught at gully with one that bounced a bit extra. Ravindra Jadeja, who got his maiden Test century in the last match in Rajkot, was trapped in front first ball. India could have been seven down the next ball but R Ashwin survived a leg-before appeal that stayed not out via
umpire’s call after review. India were 314/6. Two overs later, Pant pushed a short ball from Shannon Gabriel straight to cover. Twice now in two matches, Pant has fallen for 92. Holder completed his fifth five-wicket haul in Tests when he bowled Kuldeep Yadav.
Injured Shardul Thakur was sent out to bat with Ashwin after Umesh Yadav was caught behind with India just 31 ahead. That showed a slight desperation on India’s part as the Mumbai medium-pacer hobbled up and down the wicket for singles. India managed a 56-run lead when Gabriel rattled Ashwin’s off-stump.
After West Indies came out to bat post-lunch, Umesh Yadav struck on the second ball of the innings when he got Kraigg Brathwaite caught down the leg. Ashwin struck in the fourth, Rahane
taking a close catch at slip to dismiss the other opener Kieran Powell. Shimron Hetmyer was looking good with three solid drives before he was caught at wide gully by Pujara off Kuldeep. Shai Hope was caught by Rahane at slip off Ravindra Jadeja’s first over to leave West Indies at 45/4.
After a brief stand of 23 runs for the fifth wicket, Roston Chase and then injured keeper Shane Dowrich were both castled by Umesh Yadav. Umesh Yadav was on a hat-trick twice on Sunday. First, when he ran into bowl the opening ball of the innings to Brathwaite and then when he bowled to Holder in the 27th over of the innings. He could not convert either, but he will take a lot of heart from his performance on a flat track that did not offer much movement.