Rahane and Pant put India in control
Batsmen rack up a 146-run fifth-wicket stand to rescue the hosts from 162-4
Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant hit contrasting half-centuries to put India on course for a sizeable first innings lead against the West Indies in the second Test yesterday.
The hosts were 308-4 at stumps, trailing the West Indies by three runs after Rahane, 75, and Pant, 85, put together an unbeaten 146-run fifth-wicket stand in Hyderabad.
Paceman Umesh Yadav also played a part in India’s dominance with career-best figures of 6-88 that helped bowl out the West Indies for 311 early in the morning session.
In reply, India were in trouble at 162-4 with West Indies captain Jason Holder taking two wickets, including his counterpart Virat Kohli’s prized scalp in the afternoon session.
Ideally we’re looking to bat another two sessions and if that happens we will be in a great position SANJAY BANGAR India batting coach
Shaw fell to left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican after hitting 11 fours and a six and Pujara went for 10 in the very next over off paceman Shannon Gabriel.
Kohli tried to steady the innings with some fluent strokeplay as he built a 60-run partnership with Rahane but was denied what could have been his 20th Test fifty.
Holder, who scored 52 in the first innings, trapped Kohli lbw for 45. He also bowled opener Lokesh Rahul for four in the morning session.
The West Indies were hit by injury to wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich, and were forced to replace him with substitute Jahmar Hamilton behind the stumps. Hamilton was far from convincing and apart from a few misses down the leg side he dropped Pant on 24 off Gabriel.
“[It was] very heartening to see the way Rishabh and Ajinkya have approached the innings because both have been patient and very disciplined and obviously as a batsman Ajinkya is also due for a big score,” India’s batting coach Sanjay Bangar said. “If they get over that initial 30-35 over phase, because new ball is also due ... and I am sure in the first session their bowlers will be fresher and they will be operating in tandem.
“So once we can get through the new ball then we have a very capable lower order as well. Ideally we’re looking to bat another two sessions and if that happens we will be in a great position.”
Earlier, Yadav, who lost his pace partner in debutant Shardul Thakur due to a groin strain on day one, picked all the three West Indian wickets in the morning after the tourists started on 295-7.
Roston Chase top-scored with 106, his fourth Test ton. He was bowled by Yadav. “I am still pleased with the century. It is my first century away from home, so it is a special one for me,” Chase said.
Yadav also got Gabriel next ball to become the first Indian paceman to get six wickets on home soil since Javagal Srinath’s 6-45 against New Zealand at Mohali in 1999.