Quick runs and impressive performance by the bowlers on day five meant India clinched the four-match series 2-0 with a 237-run win at St Lucia in the third Test. After losing the toss, things didn’t look rosy for the visitors but some brilliant rear-guard with the bat and excellent bowling helped them complete an easy win.
At 126/5 on day one, India would have considered themselves lucky to get past 200. But centuries from Ravichandran Ashwin and Wriddhiman Saha ensured India finished with 353. In response West Indies started brightly and with a day lost to rain it looked as though the game was heading for a draw when play resumed on day four.
But Bhuvneshwar Kumar had other ideas and his five-wicket haul and some quick runs in the second innings, set the hosts a challenging total of 346 on the final day. Unfortunately, they didn’t even come close as they were bowled out for 108.
West Indies captain Jason Holder heaped praise on Ashwin and Saha. He said: “We bowled well in the first morning but credit needs to be given to how Ashwin and Saha played. We are obviously struggling with the batting and we can't win Test matches until we put some runs on the board.
“We just got to be a little more patient, and put price on the wicket, and fight. Miguel in the first and second innings, quality bowling. We can only hope Miguel and Alzarri go leaps and bounds from here. We just need to knuckle down and put some runs on the board.”
Kohli will remain at No.3 and Rohit will bat at No.5
Indian captain Virat Kohli happy to have corrected the mistakes of the previous Test. He said: “We have done quite a few firsts in the last year. In Jamaica we understood the things that went wrong. We corrected those things here on the fourth day. We got seven wickets for 31 runs and that was the game-changer. We have always aimed to win series' away from India. This is a good start.“
Speaking about the changes to the side and where Rohit Sharma fits in, the Indian skipper said: “We made three changes and we understood Rohit needs to be backed at a particular position. I batted at No.3, Jinks at No.4. Rohit is dangerous at No.5. That means I take up the extra responsibility at No.3. I don't mind that and someone like Ashwin is batting well.
“And we can play five bowlers. Wonderful, commendable from Bhuvneshwar. He showed the bowlers how to bowl in consistent areas. We lost early wickets here, that's the way Test cricket goes. I am being too critical but we will look for a complete performance in Trinidad.”
Unsurprisingly, the Man of the Match went to Ravichandran Ashwin for his fourth Test century and rescuing India form a difficult situation. He said: “ I am not sure how many Man of the Match awards I have won but quite sure about the Man of the Series [chuckles]. We thought 234 on the first day was a par score, and we wanted to extend it.
“From the outside, it looked like a slow wicket but there was enough. We were bowling good lines and conservative lengths and it paid off in a heap. Bhuvi bowled that wonderful spell on the fourth day. We have a great comradery in the team. Nobody is afraid of speaking their mind in this team and that is being done by the top team management.”
Here is how the cricket fraternity reacted to the win.
Virender Sehwag:
Harsha Bhogle:
VVS Laxman:
Anjum Chopra:
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