Hyderabad: Indian spinners went off the boil in the final session as all-rounder Roston Chase (98 n o, 174b, 7×4, 1×6) hit a gutsy unbeaten half century to take West Indies to a respectable 295 for seven on the opening day of the second Test, here Friday.
Chase showed the much-needed application with requisite technique as Indian bowlers struggled after polishing off the top half for only 113 runs. Chase, along with skipper Jason Holder (52, 92b, 6×4), did enough to ensure that the West Indies will have a good first innings total to fight.
The Chase-Holder duo added 104 runs for the seventh wicket. In England, it was the pacers, here it was the spinners who struggled and only one wicket fell for 102 runs in last session.
Nonetheless, Umesh Yadav (3/83) bowled his heart out on a good batting track while left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav (3/74) was also impressive during the first two sessions. Debutant pacer Shardul Thakur (0/9) left the field complaining of groin strain after bowling merely 10 deliveries.
It seemed good enough till tea time but the lack of a fifth bowler did have its effect in the final session as the two senior spinners Ravichandran Ashwin (1/49) and Ravindra Jadeja (0/69) lacked a Plan B to dismiss a set Chase.
However, it was India, who had started the post-lunch session on a dominant note with signs that another batting debacle from the Caribbeans looking imminent. Shimron Hetmeyer (12) was adjudged plumb in-front. Sunil Ambris (18) played a loose shot as the Caribbeans were left stuttering at 113 for five.
Chase and Shane Dowrich (30) then added 69 runs for the sixth wicket before Umesh got the ball to reverse trapping the keeper leg-before. While the umpire initially gave not out, skipper Virat Kohli had a successful DRS review. Earlier, Ashwin and Yadav struck early in the session as West Indies lost their top-order in the first session in which they scored 86 runs. At the stroke of lunch, Shai Hope (36) was dismissed by Yadav as India gained the upper-hand.
Selfie row
A case was filed Friday against a man belonging to Kadapa District of Andhra Pradesh for allegedly breaching security cordon at the Uppal Stadium. Police inspector P Venkateswarlu said a case of trespassing was slapped against 19-year-old Mohammad Khan, who breached security cordon to get up close with Virat Kohli. It happened an hour into the morning session when he climbed the barricade and sprinted around 70 metres towards Kohli before engaging in a tight hug and then trying to take a selfie with the skipper. Kohli was seen trying to avoid his hug as the security personnel came and whisked him away.