India in strong position with Ashwin’s 5 wickets in 1st Test against West Indies
Roseau (Dominica). Ravichandran Ashwin, who was dropped from the World Test Championship (WTC) final at the Oval, produced a record-breaking five-wicket haul to bundle out hosts West Indies for 150 in the first innings of the first Test at The Oval.
Ashwin took 5 wickets for 60 runs in 24.3 overs. He sent West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite (20), Tegener Chanderpaul (12), Alik Athanaz (47), Alzarri Joseph (4) and Jomel Warrican (1) to the pavilion. West Indies won the toss and decided to bat first.
This was Ashwin’s 33rd five-wicket haul in an innings.
It was a good day for India. The two Indian spinners did exceptionally well on a pitch that was turning from day one. Ravindra Jadeja took three wickets for 26 runs in 14 overs to put India in a strong position in the first Test of the two-match Test series.
After performing brilliantly with the ball, India also performed brilliantly with the bat. The new opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal (40 runs) and skipper Rohit Sharma (30 runs) scored 80 runs in 23 overs without losing any wickets. India are now 70 runs behind West Indies’ first innings score with all 10 wickets intact and are in a position to post a mammoth total.
Earlier, debutant left-handed West Indian batsman Alyque Athanaz showed some resistance and was dismissed for 47.
The low level batting of the hosts was mainly due to some careless shot selection.
The spectators went into jubilation when Athanaz went down on his knees to smash Ashwin for a six over mid-wicket. They started the 41-run partnership to get the West Indies out of trouble, but could not play the short ball from Mohammad Siraj and was caught straight at deep square leg.
Ashwin took his 700th wicket in the match, making him the third-highest wicket-taker in international cricket after Anil Kumble (956) and Harbhajan Singh (711).
Abbreviated Score:
West Indies all out for 150 in 64.3 overs (Alick Athanaz 47, Kraigg Brathwaite 20; Ravichandran Ashwin 5-60, Ravindra Jadeja 3-26).
India 80 for no loss in 23 overs (Yashaswi Jaiswal 40 not out, Rohit Sharma 30 not out). (IANS)
