Windies forced to follow on in Antigua

Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami has sliced through the West Indies top-order to put Virat Kohli’s side in complete control on a one-sided third day of the first Test in Antigua.

Having returned to the national team after a series of injuries over the past 12 months, Shami finished with figures of 4-66 as West Indies ended the day on 1-21 in their second innings, having been forced to follow on after being bowled out for 243.    

While Shami knocked over the top order, his fellow paceman Umesh Yadav was equally as impressive destroying the lower order to finish with figures of 4-41.

Resuming on the overnight score of 1-32, nightwatchman Devendra Bishoo infuriated the Indian pace bowlers in the opening hour with some resolute batting.  Leg-spinner Amit Mishra finally provided the breakthrough when he had Bishoo stumped, having lost his balance while trying to sweep a full delivery.

Kraigg Braithwaite batted patiently as he waited for anything juicy on his pads or short outside off-stump to score his runs. But just as Darren Bravo and Braithwaite looked to be settling in, Shami found his rhythm.  

He continued to probe both the batsmen in the corridor of uncertainty with a good head of steam. The pressure built and Bravo’s knock of 11 ended with an ugly waft outside the off-stump as the hosts went to lunch at 3-90.

India continued to apply the clamps to the scoring after lunch with Shami sustaining his relentless line and length.  

The third over after lunch proved to be decisive as Shami struck twice in space of four balls.  He first caught Marlon Samuels on the crease, forcing him to push at a ball with an open face into the waiting gloves of Wridhiman Saha. He then had Jermaine Blackwood caught at third slip with one that hit the seam and leapt at him from a length.  

West Indies had been reduced to 5-92 and Shami had the impressive figures of 4-25.

Braithwaite continued his dogmatic approach by using his strong bottom hand to accumulate runs through the on-side. The opener brought up his fifty in style with a lovely on-drive off Amit Mishra.

But he was soon to lose yet another partner, as debutant Roston Chase pulled a Yadav bouncer to short mid-wicket. Couple of overs later, Yadav ended Braithwaite's fighting knock of 74 with a brute of a ball, capping a fruitful second session for India that yielded five wickets and conceded only 67 runs.

Jason Holder and Shane Dowrich launched a counter attack after the break with some flamboyant stroke play against a fatigued Indian attack. The pair was lethal on anything short and drove the spinners handsomely, sharing a partnership of 69 from 108 balls.

The second new ball ended Holder’s brisk innings of 36, as he edged a Yadav outswinger to Saha. Next ball, Yadav cleaned up Carlos Brathwaite with a sharp inswinger, as the World T20 hero failed to offer a stroke.

Dowrich continued his attack by lifting the ball over the infield on numerous occasions to bring up his fifty in 79 balls.  Dowrich hit 10 delightful fours, remaining unbeaten on 57 as the hosts were bundled out for 243 on a pitch that was still very good for batting.

With the Windies trailing by 333 Virat Kohli had no hesitation in enforcing the follow-on, especially given the way Yadav and Shami had sprung the dormant pitch to life with some sizzling bowling.  

Ishant Sharma justified Kohli’s decision to send the hosts in again by trapping Brathwaite in the very first over. Bravo and Rajendra Chandrika survived until stumps but West Indies will need a miracle to even take the Test into day five.