NORTH SOUND: After Virat Kohli’s first double-century in any form of first-class cricket, Ravichandran Ashwin’s third Test century put India in commanding position against the West Indies on the second day of the first Test on Friday.

Left to negotiate a testing hour before the close of play, the West Indies lost Rajendra Chandrika to a catch at the wicket off Mohammed Shami, leaving opening partner Kraigg Brathwaite and nightwatchman Devendra Bishoo to resume on the third morning at 31 for one after the tourists had declared at 566-8.

On another day of generally fruitless toil for the West Indies, Kohli extended his batting masterclass from the first day for another two hours, adding another 57 runs to reach exactly 200 just before the lunch interval to become first Indian captain to score a Test double-century away from home.

Any expectation of more of the virtuoso performance was ended off the second delivery upon the resumption when he played on to the persevering and previously unlucky Shannon Gabriel.

Kohli’s innings spanned just over six hours and was embellished by 24 fours off 283 deliveries.

Dropped on 43 by new wicket-keeper Shane Dowrich off Gabriel in the morning session, Ashwin played the supporting role to his captain in a 168-run fifth-wicket stand that drained the enthusiasm from the home side before lunch.

However Kohli’s surprise demise put the focus squarely on the all-rounder and he made the most of the promotion to number six in the batting order for the first time in his Test career, reaching three figures just before tea with a boundary off leg-spinner Bishoo.

“It was great to get pushed up the order,” said Ashwin at the end of the day in reflecting on his innings. “I don’t get surprised with what I do because I really enjoy my batting, but I know I still have a lot of work to do to really establish myself in the top six.”

He got good support from wicket-keeper/batsman Wriddh­iman Saha, who contributed 40 to a 71-run stand for the sixth wicket before he became Dowrich’s first wicket-keeping victim in Test cricket, being stumped off the bowling of part-time off-spinner Brathwaite.

It was the first of three wickets for Brathwaite, who ended Ashwin’s vigil at 113 and then accounted for Amit Mishra for an attacking 53 which prompted the anticipated declaration.

“It’s going to take a while for everything to click in the bowling department because this is a very young group,” said West Indies bowling coach Roddy Estwick.”

Scoreboard

INDIA (1st Innings):

M. Vijay c K. Brathwaite b Gabriel 7

S. Dhawan lbw b Bishoo 84

C.A. Pujara c K. Brathwaite b Bishoo 16

V. Kohli b Gabriel 200

A.M. Rahane c Bravo b Bishoo 22

R. Ashwin c Gabriel b K. Brathwaite 13

W.P. Saha st Dowrich b K. Brathwaite 40

A. Mishra c Holder b K. Brathwaite 53

Mohammed Shami not out 17

EXTRAS (B-6, LB-2, NB-6) 14

TOTAL (for eight wkts decl, 161.5 overs,) 566

FALL OF WKTS: 1-14, 2-74, 3-179, 4-236, 5-404, 6-475, 7-526, 8-566.

DID NOT BAT: I. Sharma, U.T. Yadav.

BOWLING: Gabriel 21-5-65-2 (4nb); Holder

24-4-83-0 (2nb); C.R. Brathwaite 25-5-80-0; Chase 34-3-1-102-0; Bishoo 43-1-163-3;

K.C. Brathwaite 14.5-1-65-3.

WEST INDIES (1st Innings):

K.C. Brathwaite not out 11

R. Chandrika c Saha b Shami 16

D. Bishoo not out 0

EXTRAS (LB-1, W-1, NB-2) 4

TOTAL (for one wkt, 16 overs) 31

FALL OF WKT: 1-30.

TO BAT: D.M. Bravo, M.N. Samuels, J. Blackwood, R.L. Chase, S.). Dowrich, J.O. Holder, C.R. Brathwaite, S.T. Gabriel.

BOWLING (to-date): Sharma 6-3-12-0 (2nb); Yadav 4-3-5-0; Mohammed Shami 3-0-6-1 (1w);. Ashwin 3-1-7-0.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2016