Windies put to the sword by teenager
WEST INDIES suffered at the hands of teenager Prithvi Shaw who struck the third-fastest hundred on debut as India dominated the opening day of the first Test here on Thursday.
Opting to bat first at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, India marched to 364 for four at the close, with the 18year-old Shaw belting a superb 134 and captain Virtat Kohli ominously poised on an unbeaten 72.
Cheteshwar Pujara had earlier missed out on a hundred when he stroked 86 while Ajinkya Rahane chipped in with 41, as India recovered from the loss of opener KL Rahul in the first over without scoring, to collar the visitors’ bowling attack.
Already set back by the loss of seasoned new-ball bowler Kemar Roach who returned to Barbados last week, due to the death of his grandmother, West Indies suffered yet another blow when captain Jason Holder was ruled out of the match with an ankle injury.
It meant a Test debut for the inexperienced 22-year-old Sherman Lewis and also saw Keemo Paul, at age 20 and with a single Test to his name, having to share the new ball with speedster Shannon Gabriel.
WEAKENED ATTACK
India cashed in on the weakened attack by scoring quickly and already, the Windies face a long road back into the match, heading into Friday’s day two.
However, there was some early celebration for the Windies when Gabriel struck Rahul in front with the sixth ball of the match with just three runs on the board. The right-hander reviewed in desperation but replays showed the ball hitting the middle stump.
Any hopes that West Indies had of finding further immediate breakthroughs were then dashed as Shaw and Pujara combined in a 206-run second wicket stand to consolidate the innings.
The right-handed Shaw struck 19 fours off 154 deliveries, while Pujara, also right-handed, faced 130 balls and counted 14 fours in chalking up his 19th halfcentury in his 63rd Test.