Press Trust of India
North Sound (Antigua), July 22: Virat Kohli (200 batting, 280b, 24×4) cantered to his maiden double century in Tests as India cruised to 404 for four at lunch on day two of the series opener against the West Indies here Friday.
Kohli resuming at his overnight score of 143, reached the milestone at the stroke of lunch and was ably supported by Ravichandran Ashwin (64 batting).
The duo batted the entire session, extending their fifth wicket stand to 168 runs as the West Indies failed to pick up a wicket in 29 overs.
India had started off the day at their overnight score of 302/4, with the two batsmen looking to bat as long as possible. And it was obvious from their watchful demeanour, as the West Indies had opted for the new ball straightaway.
Shannon Gabriel (1-56) and Jason Holder (0-83) then started off the proceedings, as on day one, but the pitch seemed to have eased out considerably as compared to the first morning.
Gabriel though was still impressive, and worked up his pace every over. He troubled Ashwin and got him driving, inducing a couple edges that fell short of the slip cordon. Then he induced another edge in the 98th over of the innings – and the eighth of the morning – only for keeper Shane Dowrich to put down a regulation chance. Ashwin was on 43 at that time.
Meanwhile, Kohli continued his march without any discomfort at all. First up, he crossed the 150-mark off 208 balls as the 100-run partnership came up in the 96th over. Kohli got to his individual milestone, getting there just before lunch, in the 119th over. He played Roston Chase (0-57) for a simple single to mid-wicket and became the first Indian skipper to score a Test doubled hundred overseas since 1932.
Earlier after tea, Thursday, Kohli put on 57 runs for the fourth wicket with Ajinkya Rahane (22) as the duo looked to build after losing both Shikhar Dhawan (84) and Cheteshwar Pujara (16) in the second session of play. Rahane was lucky when an edge off Shanon Gabriel (1/43) fell short of the slips.
But after that the duo kept the run-rate flowing, bringing up the 200-mark in the 61st over. Then, five overs later, they brought up their 50-partnership, coming off only 65 balls. Kohli was looking particularly good in this period, as cover drives and on-drives started booming off his blade.
Just as they were looking good, Rahane was dismissed, a loose stroke off Devendra Bishoo (3-108) lobbing up and he was caught at short mid-wicket.