India in control after first day against Windies

Jul 31, 2016 Sports

(Reuters) Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin bagged his 18th five-wicket haul as India dismissed West Indies for 196 on the first day of the second test in Jamaica on Saturday.
Ashwin continued his brilliant form, taking 5-52 as India seized command at Sabina Park in Kingston.
Paceman Ishant Sharma greased the wheels by picking up two early wickets with a devastating opening spell of seam bowling.
The Windies lost their first three wickets for only seven runs and Ashwin took over in the second session as the home team continued their recent miserable test form after captain Jason Holder won the toss and batted.
Only Jermaine Blackwood (62 off 62 balls) and Marlon Samuels (37 off 118 balls) among the Windies top order showed significant resistance.
They shared in an 81-run fourth wicket stand, while tailenders Miguel Cummins (24 not out) and Shannon Gabriel (15) slogged 38 in an entertaining 10th-wicket partnership.
Blackwood’s drama-filled knock included a vociferous shout for caught-behind off leg-spinner Amit Mishra but English umpire Ian Gould was unmoved.
The Indians had nobody but themselves to blame because they refuse to accept the video review system that the rest of the cricket world has embraced, and therefore had no recourse to appeal the decision.
But soon afterwards they reaped the benefit of the system when Blackwood was given out lbw to Ashwin.
A replay showed the ball would barely have clipped the outside of leg stump, which meant Blackwood would have survived if the Windies had the ability to appeal the decision.
He departed after a knock that included four sixes and seven fours, a welcome improvement after a pair in the first test.
It was Ashwin’s first scalp, and four more followed on a pitch that turned from the very start.
Ashwin has now taken 31 wickets in less than four tests, and his value to the team is immense, given his genuine all-rounder status.
He made a century in the first test in Antigua, where he collected 7-113.
In reply, India closed the day well placed on 127 for 1 with Lokesh Rahul unbeaten on 75 along with Cheteshwar Purja on 18. The wicket to fall was Shikhar Dhawan caught by Darren Bravo off the bowling of Roston Chase for 27 with the score on 87. India would look to strengthen their position, while the West Indies would hope to get wickets and restrict India.

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