PTI
Kingston, August 1: Opener Lokesh Rahul showed a lot of composure hitting a career-best 158 (303b, 15×4, 3×6) as India reached a comfortable 358 for 5 on the second day here Sunday, taking complete control of the second Test against West Indies. At stumps India had increased their overall lead to 162 with Ajinkya Rahane (42 batting) and Wriddhiman Saha (17 batting) at the crease.
Rahul certainly was the hero of the day as he scored his third Test century on foreign soil. He had a partnership of 121 runs for the second wicket with Cheteshwar Pujara (46, 159b, 4×4) and then for the third wicket added another 69 with skipper Virat Kohli (44, 90b, 4×4, 1×6).
By the time, Rahul was adjudged caught behind down leg-side off Shanon Gabriel (1/50), he had put India in driver’s seat. The batsman however, was unhappy at umpire’s decision and left the ground shaking his head in disgust.
Kohli, who has been in sublime form was dismissed just when he was looking to take on the spinners having hit a six and couple of fours off Devendra Bishoo’s (1/79) bowling. A delivery from off-spinner Roston Chase (2/91), spun and bounced sharply and Kohli failed to keep his defensive shot down with Rajendra Chandrika taking a sharp catch to his right at forward short-leg.
Ravichandran Ashwin (3) was adjudged leg-before off a Bishoo delivery that hit the toe, the only Indian batsman to fail on the day.
Rahane and Saha negotiated the remaining 12.5 overs adding 31 runs with minimum fuss.
Earlier, Rahul notched up his third overseas Test century and helped India lead by 63 runs at tea. The 200-mark for India came up in the 70th over, and the duo celebrated their 100-run stand for the second wicket off 283 balls.
Even as the batsmen looked for runs, they had to take some risks, and in doing so Pujara was run-out after a direct throw from square-leg found him short of the crease at the non-striker’s end.
Rahul suffered cramps thereafter, but kept going as Kohli joined him. The West Indies’ decision to delay the new ball helped Kohli settle down, and he was beaten only once in the first 20 deliveries that he had faced.
Even though the West Indian bowlers, bowled a good length and line, they did not looked like taking wickets.