2nd Test: Blackwood, Chase frustrate India as West Indies reach 215/5 in Sabina Park

Jermaine-Blackwood
Jermaine Blackwood on his way to a gritty half century at Sabina Park on Day 5. Image Source: WICB

Internet Desk: A stupendous application and grit from the late order West Indies batsmen has put a hold on India’s ambition of going 2-0 ahead in the test series at Sabina Park. Roston Chase struck his maiden Test half-century and frustrated the Indian bowlers as West Indies reached 215/5 (54 overs) at lunch on day five of the second Test in Jamaica.

At Sabina Park, he scored 70* (122 balls, 9 fours, 1 six) and put on 93 runs with Jermaine Blackwood (63 runs, 54 balls, 9 fours, 2 sixes), as the hosts made a stand to save this match. They still trail by 89 runs with two sessions left.

Starting at overnight 48/4, Chase and Blackwood came out with a plan to defy the Indian bowlers. There had been no rain since play on day four had been called off, and not a cloud was in sight as the sun shone brightly at Sabina Park. The visitors started off with Mohammed Shami (2-53) and Amit Mishra (1-56), but Blackwood attacked them both and hit them out of the attack.

Ishant Sharma (1-34) and Umesh Yadav (0-21) were then deployed, but Blackwood continued attacking them too. The former bowled a bit wider outside of the off-stump in a bid to keep things tight, while Yadav used the short-ball approach against him. It didn’t work as Blackwood smacked his second fifty in the Test off only 41 balls, bringing it up in the 31st over as 79 runs came in the first hour’s play. West Indies also crossed the 100-mark earlier in the 25th over.

The dup put 50 off just 54 balls and it seemed as if for once the hosts’ batting would come good. R Ashwin (1-49) then was finally introduced into the attack in the 28th over of the innings, with skipper Virat Kohli opting to hold him back earlier in the session. Blackwood attacked him too, hitting a straight six in his second over, but Ashwin got his revenge as he squeezed the batsman for runs bowling from round the wicket. The plan worked and Cheteshwar Pujara took a brilliant diving catch at forward short leg in the 34th over to send Blackwood back to the pavilion.

Chase was then joined in by Shane Dowrich (33*, 59 balls, 2 fours), and the two overcame some miscommunication early in the innings to defy the Indian bowling further. After taking his maiden five-wicket haul earlier in the match, Chase then reached his maiden Test fifty off 84 balls and then opened up to play some attacking strokes against Mishra, who bowled a predominantly leg-stump line.

The Indian bowling didn’t really trouble the duo as they brought up the 50-partnership off 82 balls, and the 200-mark came up for the West Indies in the 50th over. Yadav and Shami did get the ball to reverse later in the session, but couldn’t get another success before the lunch break as the two batsmen looked comfortable at the crease.

On day one, R Ashwin picked up 5-52, his 18th five-wicket haul in 34 Test as West Indies were bundled out for 196 runs in the first innings.  On day two, KL Rahul scored 158 runs, his 3rd Test hundred.

On day three, Ajinkya Rahane scored 108*, his 7th Test hundred, as India finished at 500/9d and rain washed out the final session thereafter. West Indies were 48/4 in their second innings on day four, as tropical storm Earl washed out play barring a 30-minute session.

The visitors had won the first Test in Antigua by an innings and 92 runs.