Kohli’s expectation of a huge first innings total was shattered by the brilliant bowling from West Indies bowlers led by Jason Holer with a fifer. Resuming their inning 308-4 on day 3 with Rahane and Pant in the middle was India’s best possibility to score a huge total. However, Holder struck twice in the same over to remove Rahane and Jadeja followed by Gabriel’s brilliant effort to dismiss Rishabh Pant denying the century to him. Both Rahane and Pant couldn’t convert their innings to three digits once again. R Ashwin’s effort, in the end, gave India a 56 runs lead in first innings. However, the session was dominated by West Indies as they picked six wickets for 59 runs.
West Indies had their chances to showcase a fight and take the game to the fifth day if they batted well. Unfortunately, they didn’t. Brathwaite edged one down legside to give an easy wicket to Umesh Yadav in the first over of the second innings and Powell followed him soon. The openers were departed without opening their account in crucial innings. Shai Hope and Hetmyer seemed to rebuild the innings adding 39 runs in eight over. Just when things looked stable for them, Hetmyer threw his wicket away playing an aggressive shot against Kuldeep Yadav only to end up in Pujara’s hands. Jadeja’s first over in the innings saw Shai Hope walking back to the pavilion. All of a sudden West Indies were 45/4 leaving Sunil Ambris and Roston Chase to do the repair work. The first inning centurion didn’t last long in the middle and Dowrich fell for a golden duck. Umesh Yadav was once again on the brink of a hat-trick.
Holder and Ambris added 38 runs for the seventh wicket but once again two quick wickets brought them down. Ambris lost his wicket playing an unnecessary shot and it was only a matter of time their innings was wrapped up. The chase was just a formality for Indians and they finished it without losing a wicket.
West Indies has only themselves to blame for the defeat in the second test in Hyderabad without a fight. They had restricted India with just 56 runs first innings lead. If they had the patience to bat the time out and batted another day, it could have been an exciting test match for them. The manner at which the batsmen threw their wicket will be a worry for Holder and the team management. Holder has already suggested his team to show the game of patience in test cricket to compete and win the test games. Roston Chase batting and Jason Holder’s bowling will be the only positive they can take from the game. Hope they have the patience to bat long and win sessions which will eventually win games for them.
