ST JOHN’S – Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin logged his third Test century off the West Indies as India consolidated their strong position at tea on the second day of the first cricket Test at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium here Friday
At the interval, India were 512 for six off 154 overs with Ashwin not out 106 off 244 balls with 12 fours and fellow spinner Amit Mishra on 23.
Ashwin reached his century in 325 minutes off 237 balls when he turned leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo to the vacant mid-wicket boundary for four.
Resuming from 404 for four at lunch after starting the day on 302 for four, India’s captain Virat Kohli did not add to his lunch time score. He was dismissed for exactly 200 by fast bowler Shannon Gabriel with the second ball after the break.
Kohli’s maiden double century was ended when he dragged a delivery from Gabriel onto his stumps. Overall, Kohli batted for 283 balls and struck 24 fours.
But Ashwin, who was 64 at lunch after he was dropped on 43 in the morning session by new wicket-keeper Shane Dowrich off Gabriel, bided his time in gathering the 36 runs he needed for his century.
The West Indies surprisingly employed a double off-spin attack of Roston Chase and part-timer Kraigg Brathwaite for most of the post-lunch session.
Brathwaite was rewarded with the scalp of wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha, who was neatly stumped by Dowrich for 40 but Chase was wicket-less in 34 overs which yielded 102 runs.
Bishoo has been the West Indies’ most successful bowler with three for 163 in 43 overs while Gabriel has two for 61 in 20 overs and Kraigg Brathwaite, one for 28 off 11 overs.
