West Indies clawed their innings to 229 for five versus India in the second Test on Sunday at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad, on a day of defensive cricket that was periodically interrupted by rain.
Beginning with an overnight total of 86 for one, West Indies skipper Kraig Brathwaite and Kirk McKenzie proceeded with care, seeing out the Indian bowlers in succession. McKenzie was the first to go, after he edged it to wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan off a Mukesh Kumar length ball, giving the debutant bowler his maiden international wicket. It began to rain shortly after the left-hander was dismissed, resulting in the first rainfall-enforced break of the day.
Brathwaite exemplified patience as he battled out 235 deliveries to reach his 75. Only an out-of-the-ordinary delivery from Ravichandran Ashwin, which floated in but twisted sharply to hit the stumps, could break the West Indian batter’s defiance.
India attempted to generate opportunities by deploying left-armer Jaydev Unadkat across the wicket and establishing footmarks on the surface for the spinners to extract bite. However, due to the repeated rain interruptions, the spinners were never able to get a sufficiently lengthy spell for them to take full advantage of it.
The final session of Day three
Ajinkya Rahane’s sensational catch to dismiss Jermaine Blackwood was the talking point of the day. Beginning with over the wicket, Ravindra Jadeja pitched another delivery on the middle and leg stump and turned it away from Blackwood.
The ball brushed against the outer edge of Blackwood’s bat, ricocheted off Kishan’s hands, and landed low to Rahane’s left. The Indian vice-captain rapidly repositioned his body, bringing his left hand underneath and grabbing the ball.
Mohammed Siraj bowled Joshua Da Silva with an early inswinger that crushed his defence, giving India the fifth and final wicket of the day prior to the game being halted for the second time due to rain. Alick Athanaze as well as Jason Holder batted carefully in the final hour as West Indies trailed by 209 runs with just two days to go.
Fans react to rain-interrupted Day 3 of the second Test between India and West Indies:
West Indies 229/5 on Day 3 Stumps!
A good day for West Indies, they lost 4 wickets. Mukesh Kumar, Ashwin, Siraj and Jadeja the wicket takers. pic.twitter.com/JzgVvHp23J
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 22, 2023
I don't understand, for whom are the West Indians playing??? How can a captain, on the second day, ask his team to go for a draw after being 1-0 down in the series?? Is this how Cricket should be played?? Why are they even playing? For whom or what?
— Yuviz (@rulesyuvi) July 22, 2023
They should keep attacking feild when they know they defend every ball atleast 3 4 players around batters
— Akhilesh Sharma (@Akhiles06061410) July 22, 2023
Hard luck for Mukesh kumar ?
2 umpire calls ?— Aashish (blue tick) (@imaashish_269) July 22, 2023
Not 90 overs today just 66 overs bro
If rain didn't come they may be all out nearly 24 overs— Ajith hitman45?? (@46Ajideep) July 22, 2023
Mukesh bowled Pretty good.
— Honey (@1hsharma) July 22, 2023
After 105 overs Eng's score was 590
And Wi's score is 224
Two different side of test cricket ??Also if Ind can't win this (draw), it will be very tough to qualify for final…as this draft is tough..we need full points from Wi, Ban, Nz series atleast
— Cricket_tak_ICT?? (@KingOfCrick) July 22, 2023
Umpire ne kasam khali out dena hi nai hai saare Umpire call
— Akhilesh Sharma (@Akhiles06061410) July 22, 2023
Umpire call ?
— SudarshaN ?? (@ImSudarshan67) July 22, 2023
These umpires not Even rasing finger for one time..
— Magudeeswaran (@magudeeswaran_n) July 22, 2023
Why India didn't take new ball earlier?? After taking new balls, it seems like something happen in every ball almost!
Very defensive from Indian captain!! It's not the matter of score…it's matter of wk and time…
— Cricket_tak_ICT?? (@KingOfCrick) July 22, 2023
