New Delhi. The stage is set for an interesting finish on the fifth day of the second Test in Port of Spain. West Indies still need 289 runs to win with eight wickets in hand.
Chasing 365 on a rain-curtailed fourth day on Sunday, the hosts were 76 for two at stumps. Tagore is unbeaten on Chanderpaul (24 runs) and Jermaine Blackwood (20 runs).
Earlier, fast bowler Mohammad Siraj bowled brilliantly to give West Indies five wickets for 60 runs as their entire team was bundled out for 255 runs in the first innings. Thereafter, captain Rohit Sharma (57) and wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan (52 not out) played blistering knocks as India declared their second innings at 181 for two.
What strategy should the hosts adopt in the current circumstances? Jio Cinema expert, former India opener Aakash Chopra said, “It depends on what they are really thinking. If they want to win this game, they will have to play some aggressive cricket. But if they are only looking to draw the game, and see it as a win, that’s a different matter. That’s what they did. So, I once again expect him to sit back and wait for the loose balls to score runs. It is not a great strategy but West Indies can do it.
Chopra said, in the current situation R. The Indian spin duo of Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja are likely to play a crucial role on the final day. “Ashwin got both the wickets in the second innings of the West Indies. Jadeja is always a threat on the fifth day pitch. So, I expect them to bowl a lot of overs together in the second or third session if the game goes that far as the Indian team will also start thinking about how many overs are left and how many overs they can bowl because these two spinners can actually bowl their overs twice as fast. So yeah, expect some wickets from him.”
He also believes that there is still some help for the batsmen on the wicket. He said, “This pitch is not your traditional fifth day pitch which wears down really fast. It is a surface where you can play long innings if you are determined not to lose your wicket easily. There may be the occasional good delivery, but it really shouldn’t give a batsman sleepless nights.”
(IANS)
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