India beat West Indies by 257 runs, win Test series 2-0

Kingston, Sept 2, 2019 (AFP) – India completed another crushing victory over the West Indies, demolishing the home side by 257 runs on the fourth afternoon of the second and final Test at Sabina Park in Jamaica on Monday.

Set the improbable target of 468 late on day three, the home side tumbled in the post-lunch session, losing their last six wickets for 51 runs as they were dismissed for 210 to hand Virat Kohli’s side a clean sweep of a Test series in the Caribbean for the first time ever.

This result also completed a 100 percent record for the tourists in all completed matches played on this tour. The 2-0 Test series triumph followed a 3-0 success in the T20 Internationals and a 2-0 victory in the One-Day Internationals, with one match ruined by rain.

Pacer Mohammed Shami and spinner Ravindra Jadeja took three wickets each as the Indians once again had too many varied weapons for the home side.

Shamarh Brooks completed a maiden Test half-century but it was little consolation for West Indies captain Jason Holder who was last out, bowled by Jadeja for 39 to trigger the Indian celebrations.

“This was pretty comprehensive again for us,” said Kohli in assessing his team’s dominant performance yet again. “We played good cricket and getting the result in the manner you want is crucial as a team. This is a real collective effort.”

Amid the jubilation there was concern for the welfare of key West Indies batsman Darren Bravo, who retired hurt on 23 just 15 minutes into the day’s play. He was eventually replaced by Jermaine Blackwood in the team according to the game’s new concussion protocol.

Resuming his innings in partnership with Brooks with the score at 45 for two, Bravo appeared to be feeling unwell and was attended to and subsequently led off the field on his own steam.

He was struck on the back of the helmet by fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah during the final over of the third day’s play and continued batting for the remaining three deliveries of the day after receiving treatment.

Australian Marnus Labuschagne was the first concussion replacement in the history of the game last month when he replaced Steve Smith during the second innings of the second Test against England at Lord’s after Smith was struck on the neck by fast bowler Jofra Archer.

Blackwood was called into duty within minutes of being drafted into the team after Shimron Hetmyer fell to yet another poor shot, caught at extra-cover to give fast bowler Ishant Sharma his second wicket of the innings.

With Bravo and Blackwood both batting in the same innings, it gave West Indies the first 12-batsman Test scorecard under the protocol.

Earlier Roston Chase was the first wicket to fall in the day after coming to the crease when Bravo went off, being trapped leg-before by Jadeja.

Blackwood dominated a 61-run fifth-wicket partnership with Brooks but when the attacking right-hander became Bumrah’s only wicket of the innings via a catch at the wicket, it signalled the beginning of the end of the West Indies resistance with Brooks’ own carelessness contributing to his demise as he was run out by a direct hit from the effervescent Kohli.

“We’ve got lots of problems with the batting,” said a despondent Holder. “It’s a tough question as to how we fix this situation. There is quite a bit of time before our next Test so it’s up to the players to take ownership of the situation.”

Despite the dominance of the Indian bowlers, it was batsman Hanuma Vihari who earned the “Man of the Match” award for his maiden Test hundred in the first innings, which he followed with an unbeaten half-century in the second to help hasten Kohli’s declaration on the third afternoon.