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The combination of youth and experience paid off for India as debutant Yashasvi Jaiswal scored his maiden Test century on Thursday to put India ahead against the West Indies on the second day of the first Test.
He was ably supported by captain Rohit Sharma who was batting on 89. Jaiswal got a ton with his 215 balls and 11 boundaries. The pair’s dominant performances also ensured that this became India’s highest opening partnership in the West Indies.
Earlier, Jaiswal displayed impressive composure and temperament with a well compiled half century as the Indian openers were in control, taking the score to 146 without loss at lunch.
Skipper Sharma has also curbed his natural instinct to make strokes for the better part to reach his fifteenth half century in Test cricket as India is just four runs short of a West Indies first innings score of 150.
Windsor Park is getting slower in the day with most deliveries and at-bats stopped.
Only 66 runs were scored during the session as the Indian batsmen took no undue risks and batted in an unhurried fashion against a vicious Caribbean attack that did not score much in the potency quotient.
The two spinners – Offie Rahkeem Cornwall (0/22 in 11 overs) and orthodox arm Jomel Warikan (0/34 in 14 overs) bowled tight lines but didn’t throw many wickets.
And the lack of off-track pace made it easier for the Indians’ openers to defend.
Jaiswal, who started on his 40th day, reached his first boundary on Friday that took him to the half-century mark, which was also a testament to the team’s management’s decision to promote him to the top on his debut.
It was a shot from Zari Joseph (0/42 in 8 overs), whose bowling lacked bite during that first session.
Jaiswal now has seven boundaries in his ways so far with six coming on the first evening while Rohit has six sixty-fours and sixes. It was the best shot in the morning.
He also rocked on the back foot and squared off with a cut by Jumel Warrikan and slammed it full force through the covers after a quiet first hour.
With plenty of time left in the match, the Indians are rightly aiming to knock the West Indies out of the game as it will be very difficult to battle it out in the third innings on a well-worn track.
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