After a disappointing efficiency within the first Test, the West Indian bowlers put up a a lot wanted struggle however Kohli’s unbeaten 87 ensured India’s management on the shut of play.
The opening duo of Rohit Sharma (80) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (57) shared a brisk 139-run stand to supply one other good launch pad earlier than the West Indies struck 4 instances within the afternoon session to place brakes on India’s scoring price.
Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja (36*) performed some beautiful strokes within the ultimate session and ensured India collected 106 runs in 33.2 overs with out shedding a wicket. Overall, 84 overs had been bowled on the opening day.
Kohli, who received off the mark with a straight drive after consuming 20 dot balls, will go into day two simply 14 runs shy of his first hundred in an abroad Test since December 2018.
Majority of his six boundaries got here on the off aspect together with an image good cowl drive off a Kemar Roach half-volley within the 57th over.
Jadeja was equally strong and matched Kohli when it got here to piercing the sector by way of the duvet area.
Kohli, who needed to work extraordinarily laborious for his 76 on a gradual pitch within the sequence opener, introduced up his thirtieth Test fifty with a boundary off spinner Jomel Warrican within the 67th over.
At the beginning of his innings, a relentless Roach examined Kohli with the fourth stump line however the star batter was capable of see off his probing spell.
In the afternoon session, the West Indies bowled with a plan and objective to strike 4 instances, leaving India at 182 for 4 at tea.
The runs got here thick and quick within the morning session however dried up within the afternoon with India solely managing 61 in 24.4 overs.
The batters to be dismissed had been Rohit, Jaiswal, Shubman Gill (10 off 12) and Ajinkya Rahane (8 off 36), who fell on the stroke of tea. The success with the ball was largely due to the self-discipline confirmed by the West Indies bowlers, one thing they lacked within the first session.
Jason Holder, who may have had Jaiswal caught at first slip simply earlier than lunch, removed the gifted southpaw by luring him to an expansive drive. The ball had flown over the gully fielder within the morning on just a few events, subsequently, prompting the hosts to push the fielder again. The ploy labored as Jaiswal mistimed the drive and debutant Kirk McKenzie took a pointy catch.
Next to depart was Gill, who had his second successive failure at his new batting place of quantity three. The seasoned Roach examined him across the off stump and Gill ended up edging a superb size ball again to the wicketkeeper.
Rohit, who regarded extraordinarily good within the center, was bowled off a magnificence from Warrican.
The left-arm spinner tossed one up and received it to show a shade from the off-stump to clip the bails.
Rahane (8 off 36) performed on to an angled in ball from Shannon Gabriel and his dismissal superior the tea break by two balls.
Earlier, Rohit and Jaiswal maintained their elegant type within the Caribbean to take India to 121 for no loss at lunch.
Young Jaiswal and Rohit, who each scored tons of in India’s dominant win within the opening Test, regarded set for an additional epic partnership. The guests scored at a run price of 4.65 in 26 overs.
Jaiswal was dropped at first slip by Alick Athanaze off Holder on the penultimate ball of the session.
The recreation additionally marks the a centesimal Test between the 2 groups and captains of each India and West Indies had been handed a particular memento by legend Brian Lara to commemorate the event earlier than the beginning of the sport.
The turning pitch in Dominica suited India very well and a extra vigorous observe was anticipated at Queen’s Park Oval however the curator determined to not depart any grass on the floor.
The West Indies pacers couldn’t create sufficient possibilities after their captain Kraigg Brathwaite put the opposition in to bat with an intent to utilize the early morning moisture within the pitch.
The pacers selected to make use of the quick ball towards the Indian openers early on however the transfer backfired. Rohit first unleashed his trademark pull off Roach for the primary six of the sport earlier than Jaiswal pulled Joseph away for an additional most.
The India skipper introduced his half-century with a six off Roach within the nineteenth over. It was a pull shot once more from the captain that went all the way in which.
Jaiswal, on the different finish, was fast to slash something vast and picked up the tempo in the direction of the top of the session. He introduced his fifty with an on the up drive off Alzarri Joseph.
(With inputs from PTI)
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com