India Vs West Indies 2nd Test Day 4 Highlights: Here are the two squads
India Squad: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishan Kishan(w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammed Siraj, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Srikar Bharat, Axar Patel, Navdeep Saini, Mukesh Kumar
West Indies Squad: Kraigg Brathwaite(c), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Jermaine Blackwood, Alick Athanaze, Joshua Da Silva(w), Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Rahkeem Cornwall, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican, Shannon Gabriel, Kirk McKenzie, Kevin Sinclair
How overspin makes R Ashwin more effective
R Ashwin had the air of a man who has endured one too many swings of misfortune, despite having more than 700 international wickets; somehow the off-spinner has always been on the chopping board. One of the most cliche adages in cricket is “let the bat do the talking.” It’s a batsman game, afterall but in Ashwin’s case, it is different, he has always let his bowling do the talking.
Ashwin, ranked No 1 in the world, couldn’t find a place in the playing XI for last month’s World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia. He spoke at length about how he felt about the omission and why he was also prepared for not playing in the final.
But the master spinner has started the next WTC cycle in style, picking up 12 wickets in the first Test against West Indies, who looked like a club-level team. The West Indies batsmen are definitely not at the level of Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, and Travis Head, and it would be unfair to extrapolate that having Ashwin at The Oval would have brought a different result. But the off-spinner displayed all the wares at his disposal to prove that he can make a positive difference to any attack. (READ MORE)
Ashwin to bowl the next over and Chanderpaul takes a single to start. Blackwood back and excellent strike to fetch a four off the next ball. The next three balls are dot balls and the final ball of the day's play gets no run. And it's stumps. Finely poised for the last day. West Indies need 289 runs, India need 8 wickets. We'll see you tomorrow.
Siraj again and Blackwood defends again. That's the first 2 deliveries done with no runs. Takes a single off the 3rd and Chanderpaul to see this over out. He takes a single off the 5th and Blackwood sees off the last delivery. WI 71/2, need 294 to win
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Ashwin will bowl the 30th over after Siraj gave away just 4 off the last over. Blackwood takes a quick single off the second delivery. Chanderpaul defends thnext 3 deliveries. Just a single frrom this one. WI 69/2, need 296 to win
Ashwin continues and after some defensive strokes, Blackwood has hit the third straigh past the bowler for a boundary. Next 2 balls are back to basics for Blackwood before ending the over with a cut for four more. WI 64/2, need 301 to win
Siraj steams in and the raps Blackwood on the pad. Defends the 2nd delivery as well as the 3rd. The 4th almost ricocheted off Blackwood's edge and onto the stumps but luck favours him. WI 55/2, need 310 to win
Half an hour of play still remains as Ashwin will bowl this one. Chanderpaul takes a single to start and the second is edged and just wide of Rahane at slips. 3 runs from this one. The next 3 balls are dots while the last one bounced up but out of reach of everyone. WI 55/2, need 310 to win
Siraj reintroduced in the attack. Blackwood leaves the first delivery and defends the second. The next two balls yield the same result as Blackwood's defence is rock solid. Maiden over. WI 51/2, need 314 to win.
Ashwin will bowl the next over and Chanderpaul with a single to put Blackwood on strike. The second ball turns away from the batter and into Kishan's gloves. Takes 2 in the next ball and a dot off the 4th. Steals a quick single in the 5th ball and ends with another. 50 Bup for West Indies. WI 50/2, need 315 to win
Jadeja continues and Chaderpaul takes a single off his second delivery. Blackwood on strike. Confusion in the middle, chance of a run out but Blackwood survives. Resolute defending off the next couple of balls. WI 45/2, need 320 to win
Ashwin back again and starts off with with a bye. Chanderpaul on strike now and tries a sweep but to no avail. Rotates strike with a single. McKenzie back on strike. And he's gone!!! LBW. Will WI review? No.. That's another down. WI 44/2, need 321 to win
Jadeja in to bowl the next over and Chanderpaul is content to only navigate the deliveries at the moment. Meanwhile, the players in the inner circle constantly encouraging Jadeja but Chaderpaul pours cold water on them with a boundary to end this over. WI 42/1, need 323 to win
Ashwin strikes again and Brathwaite is gone for the second time this match to Ashwin. Tries for a sweep and gets it all wrong and it's comfortable for Unadkat. WI 38/1, need 327 runs to win
Jadeja continues and Brathwaite smashes the first ball for a boundary, thus alleviating some pressure. The remaining balls are defended. No more runs. WI 33/0, need 332 to win
Spin from both ends as ashwin will bowl the next over and it's over to Chanderpaul now to fend off the veteran spinner. And he does so swimmingly as it's another maiden. WI 29/0, need 336 to win
Jadeja in to bowl after the drinks break and starts with 3 dots. The next 2 are also defended by the Windies skipper and the last is also a dot. Maiden to start. WI 29/0, need 336 to win
Ashwin continues and huge shout for LBW on Brathwaite and it's given!! West Indies review. No bat involved as shown by Ultraedge. The wickets are missing show ball tracking so Brathwaite will continue. Sweeps and takes a single off the next ball. Nothing more from this over. WI 29/0, need 336 to win
Unadkat will continue from the other end and Chandepaul defends the first two deliveries. Nothing off the next two deliveries as well. Maiden over. WI 28/0, need 337 to win
Spin introduced next and Ashwin replaces Mukesh. Starts with 2 dots as the 3rd is behind for 2 byes. Brathwaite rotates strikev again and Chanderpaul finally gets a single off the last. WI 28/0, need 337 to win
Unadkat continues and Chaderpaul defends the first 2 balls. Same for the next ball as well. The fourth and the fifth are defended as well. Another maiden. WI 24/0, need 341 runs
Mukesh starts with a high full toss and Brathwaite directs it to gully. The next 2 balls are also dots. Same result for the fourth and fifth while the over ends with another dot. WI 24/0, need 341 runs
Unadkat replaces Siraj and starts off with a half chance. Brathwaite gets an edge but just short of the fielder. Resolute defence off the next two balls. Finally takes a single to go off strike. Nothing off the last ball. WI 24/0, need 341 runs
Mukesh continues and bowls 4 back to back dots as Chanderpaul navigates them expertly. Nothing off this over ultimately. WI 23/0, need 342 to win
Siraj in to bowl the next over and Chanderpaul defends the first delivery. The second is also defended resolutely. Same for the third and fourth as well. Pulls the 5th, which is a short ball, for a single. Brathwaite cuts the last ball for a four. WI 19/0, need 346 to win
Mukesh Kumar to bowl the next over and starts with a dot before the WI skipper drives the second one for a boundary. That's a no ball as well. The next two balls are dots. There's a noise next and a confident appeal. The umpire is unmoved. India review. No bat involved and India lose their review. Brilliant last ball as it goes through Brathwaite. WI 14/0, need 351 runs to win
Siraj in to bowl the 3rd and Brathwaite defends. The second is across the batter and hits his hip. Brathwaite drives the 3rd towards cover for 2 runs. The next one is driven straight down the ground for four more. Takes a single off the next and Chanderpaul can see this over out. Nothing from it. WI 9/0, need 356 runs to win
Mukesh Kumar in to bowl the second over and Chanderpaul defends the first and leaves the second. Anotjher wideish one and Chanderpaul leaves it alone as well. Maiden over. WI, 2/0, need 363 runs to win
We begin again and Siraj steams in to bowl the first over. Brathwaite starts with a single before Chanderpaul takesa single off the fifth. Brathwaite defends the last ball. WI, 2/0, need 363 runs to win
Roach starts and a wideish delivery to start. Kishan leaves it alone. Full toss next and Gill with a single. Kishan removes the shackles and smashes a six off the fourth ball. Another full tos and another 6 as Kishan brings away his half century. And india declare at 364 runs.
Warrican will continue and 2 runs off the first 2 balls. A change of bat for Kishan. The fifth ball is slapped by Kishan for a straight four!! A single to end the over. IND 165/2, lead by 348 runs.
Roach starts with a wayward ball and Kishan reaches out and slaps it for a single. Another wideish delivery and Kishan leaves. The 3rd one is hit for a flat four and the 50-run partnership is up for these two. Another lofted short and another single as the ball falls just short of the fielder. IND 157/2, lead by 340 runs
On to the 21st over and Warrican continues. Starts with a dot and yields 2 runs from the next 2 balls. Gill tries to break free but does not get a boundary but a single. IND 149/2, lead by 332 runs.
Warrican back and Kishan pulls but gets just a single. Gill defends the next as well as the 3rd. Dots. Nothing off the next couple of balls. IND 139/2, lead 322 runs
Gabriel in to bowl the next one and both batters rotate strike. 2 more off the 3rd ball by Gill as the runs keep flowing. Tries a pull but it hits the inner edge. Gill takes a single off the fifth and Kishan can see the last ball off. Just a single again. IND 138/2, lead by 321 runs.
Warrican continues and a shout of catch it as Kishan survives. Takes a single and Gill back on strike. Gill rotats the strike staright away and Kishan slams the fourth for a boundary. 2 singles to finish. IND 132/2, lead by 315 runs
We are ready to go again as the players are coming out. 48 overs left in the day. Gabriel will start the over. Gill defends the first ball. The next one is legside as Gill swings and misses. Gets the 4th one away for a single. And a four next by Gill. Excellent shot. The last delivery cuts Gioll in half. IND 124/3, lead by 307 runs
The rain has stopped and we'll soon resume in 20 minutes. Let's hope that the weather stays fine. Tea has been taken as well.
The rain had stopped for a bit with the ground staff on hand to peel the covers off. But wait. The clouds have returned and it's raining again.
Some heartening news from the middle as the rain has stopped but it'll probabaly take a while for the ground to get ready so that the match can begin.
Various reports suggest that it's a heavy downpour now and the start will be delayed further. We'll keep you updated as soon as there's news from the middle.
Nothing much to report from the venue as it is still raining moderately. No idea when the match will begin again. Stay tuned for live updates as and when we get it.
Another rain interruption as the ground staff run on the field in order to cover the pitch. The players and the umpires are going off. Stay tuned for more updates.
Warrican continues and after 3 runs from the first 2 deliveries, Kishan slaps the 3rd for a boundary to deep mid wicket. The fifth gets an inside edge and Gill is fortunate that it did not ricochet on his stumps. IND 118/2, lead by 301 runs
Gabriel in to bowl the next one and Gill ushes for a single. Kishan is his partner at the other end after getting promoted up the batting order. He takes a single to return the favour. Kishan tries to go for the 4th delivery and gets a bye. IND 107/2, lead by 290 runs
We are back underway and Warrican will start off the second session. Jaiswal takes a single before Gill returns the favour as 100 comes up for India. And Jaiswal is gone. He tries for a shot, mistimes and it's high up with the keeper Joshua Da Silva underneath it. And he takes a comfortable catch. IND 102/2, lead by 285 runs
Some improvement in the condition as live visuals show the covers coming off. The sky is a bit cloudy but I think we'll be back underway soon.
Bad news from the middle as the rain has come down again. The match will be delayed further as the downpur seems pretty heavy.
It looks like a passing shower as the live visuals show blue sky with the sun already out. We should be able to start as soon as Lunch gets over. Good news for everyone around, especially if you are an Indian fan.
And here comes the rain again as the play is interrupted. The covers are out as it's raining pretty heavily and we have an update that an early lunch will be taken. IND 98/1, lead by 281 runs at Lunch.
Gabriel into bowl again and Rohit takes a single off byes. Just missed the off stump that one. Jaiswal takes a single off the third to give the strike back to his captain. And Roht's innings ends as a pull shot is his undoing. Gabriel redeems himself for that droped catch. IND 98/1, lead by 281 runs
Huge appeal for a caught behind on Rohit. The umpire goes upstairs now to check. Clear gap between bat and ball. Nothing off it. Jaiswal comes down the track next and gets a single. Drives the next and it's to a fielder. The fourth is driven again but this time to extra cover so he will get a single. Jaiswal pulls the last one and it races away to a boundary. IND 90/0, lead by 279 runs
Gabriel will bowl now and Rohit has pulled the first delivery for 4!! Gets to 50. His fastest in Test cricket. Takes a single off the 3rd and Jaiswal with another single. Finds the gap again for another 4!!! Ends with a defence. IND 90/0, lead by 273 runs.
Holder in to bowl the next and Yashasvi follows the first delivery intently and sends it dismissively to fine leg for a single. Rohit back on strike and slaps the second delivery for a four!! Places the 3rd to 3rd man for a single and Jaiswal also returns the favour. Rohit swings and misses the fifth ball. IND 80/0, lead by 263 runs
Joseph continues and Rohit starts this one off with a mammoth six!!! They are not hanging about, are they? Takes a single to give the strike to Jaiswal. The youngster also sends the next ball to deep midwicket for another single. Jaiswal swings at the 5th and it's mishit but gets the required boundary. Absolutely sliced. Will retain strike with a single off the last ball. IND 72/0, lead by 255 runs
Holder continues and Rohit takes a single to start. Jaiswal goes for another stroke and gets rapped on the pads. Drives the 3rd ball and gets a single. Rohit returns the favour with a single of his own. Jaisway slaps the next one to long on but just a single as there's protection there. A quick single to end this over. IND 58/0, lead by 241 runs
Alzarri Joseph continues and the two batters rotate strikes from the first 2 balls. Another single by Jaiswal and that's 50 for india. Rohit takes 2 and the scoreboard is being kept busy. Another short ball, Rohit pulls and he is dropped again!!! It's the debutant McKenzie this time. IND 53/0, lead by 236 runs
Early change in bowling and Holder has been introduced. The field has been spread pretty wide. Looks like an ODI or T20 match to be honest. Jaiswal starts with a single. Nothing off the next 2 balls except a wide. And what have you donne Gabriel??? Rohit mishits and has been dropped. Jaiswal ends with 4. WI 48/0, lead by 231 runs
Joseph continues and Rohit drives his second delivery for a four to sweeper cover. Exquisite timing. Defends the fourth ball and is hit on the pads off the fifth. WI decide against the review though despite a huge appeal. Rohit brings out his trademark pull for a huge six to end this over. IND 41/0, lead by 224 runs
Roach continues and Jaiswal swings and misses the 1st delivery. Takes a single next and Rohit is back on strike. The Indian skipper nonchalantly flicks the 3rd ball over the ropes for a 6!!! Too easy. Defends the 4th and steals a single off the penultimate delivery. Cries of catch it as Jaiswal drives again but Gabriel is nowhere close to it. 2 to end this one. IND 31/0, lead by 214 runs