CHASE: PATIENCE THE KEY.
ROSTON CHASE said yesterday that an adjustment to his temperament was behind his unbeaten 98, which helped West Indies recover on the opening day of the second and final Test against India.
The Windies were tottering on 113 for five about half-hour after lunch, but Chase conjured up a superb innings to get the Caribbean side up to 295 for seven at the close at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
Chase made 53 and 20 in the opening in Rajkot, which West Indies lost by an innings and 272 runs inside three days last week.
“I thought that I took my time a little more than in the first game,” Chase said in a post-match interview.
“In the first game, I thought I went away from my strengths , which is just timing the ball and beating the gaps. I tended to overhit the ball, and on these big outfields, this is not necessary.”
He continued: “I was in a bit of a rut so that first-innings half-century really build my confidence. I’ve been working hard in the nets with the coaches, working on my weak areas.”
GOOD CREASE
“And I feel good at the crease, so I just came out here and I said in the press conference [on Thursday], it’s just about believing in your ability, [backing] the process and the hard work you put in and [runs] should come.”
If Chase completes his hundred today, it will mark the fourth of his career and second against India after scoring an unbeaten 137 two years ago against them in Jamaica in what was his maiden triplefigure score.
In fact, all of his centuries have been against Asian sides, with the other two coming on Pakistan’s three-Test tour of the Caribbean last year.
Chase said that West Indies domestic cricket prepared him well to face sides like India who rely primarily on spin.
“In the Caribbean coming up in first-class cricket, spinners dominate the bowling, so I’m accustomed to playing lots of spin on turning pitches in the Caribbean,” he said.
“But these pitches seem to be very good. I thought the pitches would have spun a bit more, but they are playing quite well so far.”
Chase anchored two critical stands to repair the innings, putting on 69 for the sixth wicket with wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich, who made 30 and a further 104 for the seventh with captain Jason Holder, who scored 52.
Both Dowrich and Holder perished in the final session leaving Chase to cautiously play out the day, partnered by Devendra Bishoo on two, but the right-hander said that he was unfazed by the prospect of having to wait until day two for a chance at three figures.
WAIT-AND-SEE
“I wouldn’t say it is anything major. I can’t do anything overnight. I have to wait and come back tomorrow, but my process is simple: I just look to play each ball on its merit,” the 26-year-old noted.
“Tomorrow is just simple: just play each ball on its merit and just [enjoy the day].”