Roston Chase’s career-best first-class score helped West Indies salvage a draw on day five of the second Test against India in Jamaica. Having begun the day needing just six wickets for victory, India would have fancied their chances, but a spirited rear-guard action from the West Indies lower middle-order ensured that India only had a 1-0 lead going into the third Test.
Having won the toss and electing to bat first on day one, it didn’t go according plan for the hosts as they were bundled out for 196 before tea on the first day. From then onwards, until day 5, it was all India.
First the visitors’ batsmen stuck into the West Indian bowling line-up, with KL Rahul and Ajinkya Rahane scoring centuries and three more finishing in their forties. Having declared on 500/9 with a lead of over 300, India were firm favourties and by picking up four wickets on a rain-interrupted day four, they enhanced their chances of victory.
But day five belonged to West Indies and Chase as they finished the day with a lead and salvaged a draw when defeat looked the most likely outcome.
WI did something special: Kohli
Indian captain Virat Kohli was quick to admit that it was a "Testing day” for his side. He said: "That's what Test cricket is all about. Pity we lost most of yesterday. That's no excuse, credit to the way West Indies played today. When you lose a Test and behind in the second, it takes something special to save the match.
“Our bowlers tried our best, we created some chances, but they didn't go to hand. The first four days the wicket was very active. The hardness of the ball was a factor. On these pitches when the ball is not hard enough, play goes dead for 25-30 overs. Pretty pleased with the effort the boys put in.
“After tea as well. Everybody put in a last push. We don't want to walk away from the field wishing we had the fifth bowler. If five bowlers have given their best, and the opposition have done well, you just doff your hat to them.”
West Indies captain Jason Holder said: “Improvement from the last Test. Fully enjoyed this. We asked the guys to show fight. We got a really good partnership between Blackwood and Roston. After that Dowrich came in and showed the character we asked for.
“(On their plan for the day) It was about taking it ball by ball. It was just about showing character. Putting my hands up. Wickets were hard to come by. We had to show a lot of patience. Last Test we didn’t do that and leaked boundaries.”
And Holder wasn’t done with his praise for both the players and the sparse crowd that was on display.
“This Test - hot and humid – must have been really hard for all the bowlers,” he says. “Just outstanding batting today. Just asked them to show fight. Show some character. The crowd support – albeit a small one - meant a lot. Just want the guys to keep stressing on patience. Work harder for what we want. Show a bit more fight every time.”
Chase prefers batting to bowling
Man of the Match Roston Chase described it as a “great feeling” that he could help his side salvage a draw. He said: "That I could help draw a match for my team after having fallen behind by a long way. (On what he prefers as an all-rounder) My aim is to be equally good in both batting and bowling, but I prefer batting more.
“The captain asked the players to show some fight. We just went with the mindset that we were at war, and we can't die today. Last night myself and Dowrich had a conversation if one of us gets a hundred, we will be safe. We just fought hard till the end, Dowrich unfortunately fell short. I'm happy with the draw but I would have liked a win”
Here are the reactions from the cricket fraternity:
There was plenty of praise for Roston Chase, David Lloyd:
Ian Bishop:
Harsha Bhogle:
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