Roseau: Ravichandran Ashwin’s exceptional spin bowling performance guided India to a resounding victory against the West Indies, securing a 141-run win in the first Test at Windsor Park on Friday.
On the third day, India wrapped up the Test match by dismissing the West Indies for a meagre total of 130 runs in their second innings. Ashwin, who utilised the extra bounce and spin on offer, proved to be the tormentor for the entire middle-order and lower batting lineup of the hosts. The veteran spinner claimed an impressive figure of 7-71, single-handedly dismantling the West Indies’ resistance.
Ashwin’s brilliance ensured that the Indian team commences the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle with a valuable 12 points in their bag. His spell of accurate and deceptive deliveries made it incredibly challenging for the opposition batsmen to read his variations in line and length, ultimately resulting in their downfall.
The final session of Day 3 showcased Ashwin’s dominance as he dismissed Jermaine Blackwood with a flighted delivery that sharply turned after landing on the surface. Blackwood failed to read the spin and was trapped in front of the stumps, departing for a mere score of 5 (8).
Ravindra Jadeja complemented Ashwin’s spin magic by claiming crucial wickets of his own. He trapped Chanderpaul in front of the stumps early in West Indies’ second innings, dismissing him for 7 (28). Shortly after, Ashwin joined the party again by removing West Indies skipper Brathwaite for 7 runs.
Earlier in the game, on the third day, India continued their dominance after starting the day on 312 for 2. Yashasvi Jaiswal, making his Test debut, and Virat Kohli displayed immense patience and built a remarkable 110-run partnership. Jaiswal’s extraordinary knock of 171 runs made him the third Indian, after Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma, to achieve a century on Test debut.
However, Alzarri Joseph provided a breakthrough for West Indies in the 126th over, dismissing Jaiswal for 171 runs. The debutant’s dismissal brought Ajinkya Rahane to the crease, but he departed cheaply for just three runs, falling prey to Kemar Roach’s skillful delivery.
After Rahane’s dismissal, Kohli continued his cautious approach and reached his half-century with a single off Jomel Warrican’s delivery. Kohli’s disciplined innings displayed great determination, but he needed to accelerate the scoring rate. Ravindra Jadeja also started slowly, scoring three runs off 21 balls, before breaking the shackles and hitting Alick Athanaze for a maximum.
India made the most of their batting opportunity, eventually declaring their innings at 421/5. Jadeja remained unbeaten on 37* while Ishan Kishan could only manage a solitary run off 20 deliveries.
In their second innings, West Indies struggled to recover from the substantial deficit and lost wickets at regular intervals. The Indian spin duo of Ashwin and Jadeja relentlessly attacked the West Indies batsmen, adding to their tally of dismissals. Alick Athanaze, who played a crucial innings in the first innings, was given a reprieve when Jaiswal dropped his catch off Ashwin’s bowling. However, Mohammed Siraj quickly made an impact, dismissing Joshua Da Silva for 13(27) in just three balls.
Ashwin continued to weave his magic, taking the remaining wickets and leaving the West Indies in a state of collapse. The hosts were eventually bowled out for 130, handing India a comprehensive victory by an innings and 141 runs.
With this triumph, India takes a 1-0 lead in the Test series. The second Test match is scheduled to be held at another venue in Dominica. The Indian team will be eager to carry their winning momentum forward and secure another victory to claim the series.
Brief score: West Indies 150 & 130 (Alick Athanaze 28, Jason Holder 20; Ravichandran Ashwin 7-71) vs India 421/5 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 171, Rohit Sharma 103; Kemar Roach 1-50).
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