Ravichandran Ashwin struck his third Test hundred as India piled misery on a listless West Indies bowling attack to amass 512/6 at tea on day two of the first Test here today.
Ashwin (106* off 244 balls), who came out to bat at number six ahead of Wriddhiman Saha, enjoyed his time in the middle against an ordinary attack. Even his previous two hundreds had come against the Caribbean outfit.
The off spinner was batting alongside Amit Mishra (23*) when tea was taken. Saha (40) missed out on a big score as India scored 108 runs in 35 overs with loss of two wickets.
Ashwin complimented the stellar effort from captain Virat Kohli, who fell second ball post lunch after scoring his maiden double hundred in Tests.
The Indian captain was perhaps looking to bat longer after the lunch break, but didn't last long as Shannon Gabriel (2-61) finally broke the 168-run stand with Ashwin. Kohli played onto his stumps off the second ball of the second session, and was dismissed for an exact 200 runs (283 balls, 24 fours).
Saha then joined Ashwin and the two continued to frustrate the West Indies' bowling. At the same time, the hosts didn't show much intention to get into the Indian tail, perhaps resigned to the fact that the only end to their time in the field was a declaration.
The Indian keeper-batsman started off slow but quickly gained momentum as Roston Chase (0-102) and Kraigg Brathwaite (1-28) were brought on in tandem. The runs came off easily, and they brought up the 450-mark in the 139th over. Their 50-stand came off 120 balls, after which Saha was stumped off Brathwaite, going for an expansive drive.
The 500-mark came up in the 151st over as the visitors looked set for a tall score.
Earlier, Kohli scored his maiden Test double hundred in the morning session and in doing so, became the first Indian skipper to scored a Test doubled hundred overseas. He beat Mohammad Azharduddin's long-standing record of 192 against New Zealand scored in February 1990. Also, Kohli recorded his highest First-Class total going past 197 runs.
India had started off the day at their overnight score of 302/4, with the two batsmen looking to bat as long as possible. And it was obvious from their watchful demeanour, as the West Indies had opted for the new ball straightaway. Gabriel and Holder then started off the proceedings, as on day one, but the pitch seemed to have eased out considerably as compared to the first morning.
Gabriel though was still impressive, and worked up his pace every over. He troubled Ashwin and got him driving, inducing a couple edges that fell short of the slip cordon. Then he induced another edge in the 98th over of the innings - and the 8th of the morning - only for keeper Shane Dowrich to put down a regulation chance. Ashwin was on 43* at that time. (REOPENS FGN 50)
Kohli continued his march without any discomfort at all. First up, he crossed the 150-mark off 208 balls as the 100-partnership came up in the 96th over. Then he went past his previous Test highest score of 169 scored against Australia at the MCG in December 2014.
The duo had scored at a good rate and the first hour of play resulted in 50 runs. There was a short spell when Devendra Bishoo was introduced into the attack, wherein the runs calmed down. But as soon as the two batsmen got accustomed to his spin again, the scoring rate went up once again.
Ashwin made good of the life given to him and reached his 7th Test fifty off 127 balls. In doing so, he helped India past the 400-mark in the 118th over and indeed brought up the 150-partnership with Kohli off 272 balls.
The West Indies were looking lethargic in the field as this partnership sucked out all energy, even as the wait was now for Kohli's impending milestone. And he didn't disappoint, getting there just before lunch, in the 119th over. Kohli played Roston Chase (0-57) for a simple single to midwicket.
