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Ravichandran Ashwin’s five wickets reduced West Indies’ innings to 150 runs

Rossiu. An impressive performance from the bowlers led by Ravichandran Ashwin helped India bundle out the West Indies for 150 in their first innings after tea on Wednesday, the opening day of the first Test of the two-match series. Ashwin took five wickets for 60 runs in 24.3 overs. He was well supported by left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, who took three wickets for 26 runs in 14 overs. Fast bowlers Shardul Thakur and Mohammad Siraj have got one success each. Ashwin took five wickets in a Test innings for the 33rd time and completed 700 wickets in international cricket (Test, ODI and T20 Internationals) during this period.

He is the third Indian bowler after Anil Kumble (956) and Harbhajan Singh (711) to achieve this feat. Ashwin has 702 wickets in 271 matches and 351 innings in international cricket, out of which he has taken 479 wickets in Tests. Only Alyque Athanage, who was making his debut for the West Indies, could stand up to the Indian bowlers. However, he missed the half-century. He became Ashwin’s fourth victim of the innings after scoring 47 runs. Ashwin dismissed Tegnarayan Chanderpaul (12) and captain Kraigg Brathwaite (20) in the opening session of the day, while Shardul Thakur (1/15), playing as the third pacer, made his debut to Ramon Reifer (two). Caught by wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan.

Jadeja dismissed Jermaine Blackwood (14) just before the lunch break. In the fourth over of the second session, Jadeja made the mistake of cutting an arm ball to Joshua DaSilva (two) and the ball took the outside edge of the bat and went into the gloves of Kishan. Athanage was well supported by veteran Jason Holder after this. After getting together from one end, Athanage’s confidence grew and he hit brilliant fours against Jadeja and Ashwin. The left-handed batsman also hit a six against Ashwin. Siraj broke the 41-run partnership in 108 balls for the sixth wicket between the two. Holder was caught by Shardul near the square leg boundary in an attempt to hit Siraj’s bouncer for a six.

Ashwin dismissed Alzarri Joseph (four) to bring his tally of wickets to 700 in internationals and then ended Athanage’s fine innings. In the last session of the day, Jadeja dismissed Kemar Roach (one) while Ashwin dismissed Jomel Warrican (one) to wrap up West Indies’ innings. Rahkeem Cornwall remained unbeaten after scoring 19 runs. Earlier in the opening session of the day, West Indies batsmen batted with caution and hit just six fours in 28 runs. After winning the toss and electing to bat, Brathwaite and Tegnarayan did not take chances in the opening overs. Both adopted an ultra-defensive approach against Mohammad Siraj and left-arm bowler Jaydev Unadkat.

Both these bowlers of the new ball, however, did not get luck and the ball came out from close to the bat many times. Ashwin benefited from the pressure created by the fast bowlers. Ashwin used the slow and flighted ball brilliantly here. Tegnarayan survived being caught out on his first ball. The ball took the edge of his bat and the shot went near the leg. On the last ball of the same over, Braithwaite hit a four by playing an aggressive shot. Ashwin, however, read the mood of the pitch after his first over and tightened the noose on the batsmen. Tegnarayan got bowled after getting caught on his off-spin ball. Ashwin thus became only the fifth bowler and the first from India to dismiss the father-son duo in Tests. He had Tegnarayan’s father Shivnarine Chanderpaul lbw in his debut Test match played in Delhi in 2011.

ALSO READ: Ashwin becomes first Indian bowler to dismiss father and son in Tests

In an attempt to overcome the curb on scoring, Brathwaite tried to hit a big shot over midwicket but the ball went into the hands of Rohit Sharma standing in the cover region. Left-handed batsman Reefer did not look comfortable at the crease. After facing trouble on Siraj’s deliveries, he tried to score against Shardul but the ball took the outside edge of his bat and Kishan dived forward to the left and took a brilliant catch. Blackwood, after spending time at the crease, shot over Jadeja’s head but Siraj raced to his right from mid-off and took a brilliant catch to end his innings.

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