India vs West Indies, Highlights, 1st Test, Day 4 at Antigua, Full Cricket Score: Windies bowled out for 100, crumble to 318-run loss

Virat Kohli: This ground has been good for us. Compared to the last game that we played here back in 2016, it was more of a grind. Ajinkya Rahane deserves his award, he’s been so good for us and KL Rahul too, was solid at the top. As a Test side, we think in terms of temperament, we are doing good and playing patient. From now on, it’s all about managing workloads, especially for the seamers. Bumrah needs to be monitored for his fitness and Umesh Yadav and Navdeep Saini who bowl quick are also waiting in the wings so it’s a good unit with plenty of bench-strength.

Ajinkya Rahane wins the Player of the Match award for his knocks of 81 and 102! 

Rahane: Feels really special, getting this hundred after 29 or 30 innings. We really needed a partnership going, and the partnership between me and Rahul was really crucial. Before this I played county games, and I thought that really helped me. I would like to dedicate this hundred to all those who backed me in those one or two years. First day of the game, the wicket was really damp, and West Indies bowled really well. We knew if we stayed there, runs would come automatically. Same in the second innings. We needed one good partnership. Plan was to just bat, bat and bat.

Jason Holder: It was a good wicket throughout the four days and we should have consolidated on our first innings effort. There are a lot of questions that we need to ask ourselves, our batters need to come to the party and lay a good foundation for us. It can’t be just the bowlers running in all day and saving the match for us.

Well, that didn’t last long. Abysmal finish to an ordinary game for WI – that it took their No 10 and 11 scoring half the team’s runs to get them to 100 says everything. 

Lots of records – WI registering their lowest Test score against India, India winning a Test outside Asia by more than 300 runs for the first time, Virat Kohli becoming the Indian captain with the most wins in away Tests. 

West Indies weren’t expected to be the biggest threat India would face, but they did have India struggling at 25/3 inside 40 minutes on the opening day – but that was about all that went well for them in this game. 

A flying start to India as they begin their journey in the World Test Championship, but the biggest positive of the game has to be Ajinkya Rahane – back among the runs, with two innings as crucial as they were delightful to watch.

Indian captains with 100-plus international wins:

MS Dhoni​

Mohammad Azharuddin​

VIRAT KOHLI*

Indian pacers taking all 10 wickets in a Test innings in West Indies:

Bridgetown, 1997
North Sound, 2019*

Largest wins for India in away Tests – by runs:

318 v West Indies, North Sound, 2019*

304 v Sri Lanka, Galle, 2017

279 v England, Leeds, 1986

“Feels quite good. We exerted pressure right from the start. Ishant was getting good inswing from one end, and I was getting outswing from the other. Lot of practice goes into it. I wasn’t very confident of the outswinger, but gained confidence after the England tour. Always trying to evolve and bring new things. All of us have a good camaraderie, and keep pushing each other,” says Jasprit Bumrah after his match-winning spell of 5/7.

Lowest totals for West Indies v India in Tests:

100, North Sound, 2019*
103, Kingston, 2006
108, Gros Islet, 2016
127, Delhi, 1987
127, Hyderabad, 2018 

Most Test wins for Indian captains:

27 – MS Dhoni
27 – VIRAT KOHLI*
21 – Sourav Ganguly 
14 – Mohammad Azharuddin 

Most Test away wins for Indian captains:

12 – VIRAT KOHLI*
11 – Sourav Ganguly 
6 –  MS Dhoni

After 27 overs,West Indies 100/10 ( Miguel Cummins 19 , )

West Indies are all out and it’s an emphatic victory by 318 runs for India in their World Test Championship opener.

OUT!

The short ball does the trick. Kemar Roach slashes hard and gathers a heavy edge, skying the ball where Pant covers some yards to take a catch. Roach top-scores for his team with 38

FIFTY

Kemar Roach is saving some face for his team and drawing a few cheers now. He slogs a full-length delivery down long-on for six and brings up the fifty run stand with Miguel Cummins. The highest partnership for the Windies this innings is for the 11th wicket. What a day!

After 26 overs,West Indies 94/9 ( Kemar Roach 32 , Miguel Cummins 19)

Shami bangs it just short of a length and Cummins misreads the length. He ducks under but the ball hits him on his helmet. He dismisses the doctors and goes on the charge thereon, a flurry of hits to close out the over with 12 runs being gathered. West Indies are nearing the 100 run mark.

SIX!

A blow on the helmet and Cummins is a changed man. Needed more of those for the entire top and middle order of the West Indies. Slammed short ball for four down long-on followed by a hoist off a full-pitched delivery for six.

After 25 overs,West Indies 82/9 ( Kemar Roach 32 , Miguel Cummins 7)

Kohli persists with Jadeja for reasons which no one would be interested in debating upon. There isn’t much strategy left to debate now. It’s all a matter of time.

FOUR!

Miguel Cummins finally goes for the long hoik. The balls grabs the edge off the toe of his bat and skittles past the keeper’s legs for four. Jadeja continues to go for runs.

After 24 overs,West Indies 74/9 ( Kemar Roach 31 , Miguel Cummins 0)

Shami bowls to Cummins, into the body. Cummins keeps it down somehow and isn’t going for his shots. Don’t know what he’s batting for though. Maybe to wait out the scolding they’ll likely receive from their coach.

After 23 overs,West Indies 74/9 ( Kemar Roach 31 , Miguel Cummins 0)

Jadeja is going for some runs here. A rare failure with the ball for him. He has now conceded 24 runs off his 3 overs this innings. Who would have thought? However, India won’t care about that stat. They are on the cusp of their first win in the World Test Championships.

SIX!

Roach is enjoying himself with the long handle. Strikes a couple of lusty blows down the wicket for a brace of sixes. Jadeja is going for runs here. Roach seems to have caught the Ben Stokes bug during the TEA interval.

After 22 overs,West Indies 56/9 ( Kemar Roach 13 , Miguel Cummins 0)

Shami steams in to Cummins and the Windies end is inevitable. What these last two batsmen can do is entertain this sparse Antiguan crowd in attendance who would be dejected with the abject lack of a fight shown by the home team. Shami beats the outside edge and Cummins survives.

After 21 overs,West Indies 56/9 ( Kemar Roach 13 , Miguel Cummins 0)

A short of a length delivery. Roach gets across and hops on one leg as he looks to play it off his hips. Misses the ball and it hits it on his pads. An India appeal sees the umpire give in but Roach reviews and saves himself. There’s some action left here and Roach isn’t in a hurry to return to the hotel.

After 20 overs,West Indies 50/9 ( Kemar Roach 7 , )

India are on the verge of finishing off this match emphatically. The seam bowlers have impressed and we’ll see if Ishant Sharma can get his third wicket this innings.

OUT!

Don’t know what he was trying to do there. Gabriel looking to punch hard off the back foot but the ball goes past in a jiffy and grabs his outside edge. Shami gets his second wicket and there’s just one wicket left to play with for the Windies.

OUT!

There was an air of sarcasm as the crowd cheered their team reaching the 50 run mark and Mohammed Shami complements that with a peach of a delivery. He takes a leaf out of Bumrah’s book, getting it to pitch around off and then going away, beating the outside edge but smashing into the stumps. The top scorer for the Windies in the first innings, Roston Chase does it again. Top scores with 12 in the second but it won’t be enough by a long haul.

After 19 overs,West Indies 49/7 ( Roston Chase 12 , Kemar Roach 6)

Jadeja is pulled out of the attack, Ishant Sharma replaces him for his second burst. The in-swingers keep coming effortlessly for him. Chase blocks them well and finds the one that is staying its course to put his bat out and dab the ball for a single down cover. Roach does well to dig under a surprise yorker from Sharma and takes a single off the final ball to retain the strike.

After 18 overs,West Indies 46/7 ( Roston Chase 11 , Kemar Roach 4)

Mohammed Shami comes into the attack and we get a peek in at his beautiful wrist position. He pitches at good length and the ball, as usual, skids along, hurrying the batsman in bringing their bat down but narrowly missing the edge off Chase’s bat. It’s a maiden for Shami.

After 17 overs,West Indies 46/7 ( Roston Chase 11 , Kemar Roach 4)

Jadeja runs through his routine without batting an eyelid, hitting the right areas, straying a bit and gets hit for four by Kemar Roach who plays Mohammed Shami’s role in this Windies batting order. A somewhat expensive over from Jadeja as he goes for nine off his second over.

Indian pacers with a five-for in Tests in West Indies:

Ishant Sharma (3)
Kapil Dev (2)
Venkatesh Prasad 
Abey Kuruvilla 
Bhuvneshwar Kumar 
Jasprit Bumrah*

FOUR!

Roach doesn’t see much merit in holding back, now that the captain is back in the hut. He lofts a fullish delivery for a hoist over long-off against Jadeja’s spin.

What an absolutely ripping spell of fast bowling this has been from India’s best find of this decade. Returning to the fold after a break, and we’re seeing the magic of some time-off. 

Eight unchanged overs either side of the tea break, and he has been at his unplayable best. WI might not have done themselves a lot of favours, but not many teams around world cricket right now would fare much better in the face of such fiery, well-directed pace bowling. 

Earning an extra day’s rest for his teammates on his own return from a much-needed breather.

After 16 overs,West Indies 37/7 ( Roston Chase 6 , Kemar Roach 0)

Kohli persists with Bumrah, who already has four wickets in his kitty today, from the other end. Bumrah then makes it five, rattling Holder’s off stump with a searing yorker. Appeals for lbw against three balls later, and Kohli goes upstairs after it’s turned down by umpire Kettleborough. Hawk-Eye shows the ball to be missing leg, resulting in the Indians losing one of their reviews, which will only get reset 64 overs later, if West Indies are able to survive that long.

BOWLED EM! Bumrah’s showing amazing consistency at rattling the off-stump, this time hitting the base of the stump with a sharp yorker that nips away from the batsman in the last second. Holder was also beaten for pace here, and little answer to that peach of a delivery. And that completes Bumrah’s five-for, his figures currently reading 7.2-2-7-5! WI 37/7

Holder b Bumrah 8(19)

After 14 overs,West Indies 30/6 ( Roston Chase 6 , Jason Holder (C) 1)

A run of the mill over here. Bumrah acing his line and length. Roston Chase doing well to get behind the ball and play defensively, even as the bat spins in his hands. Just the one run off a leg bye.

After 13 overs,West Indies 29/6 ( Roston Chase 6 , Jason Holder (C) 1)

DROPPED! Ishant Sharma bowls short and the ball goes to Holder’s midriff, prompting him to play a flick off the hips. It goes straight to Vihari at backward square leg but he spills it. The trap was set. Virat Kohli had stationed himself at mid-off, in constant touch with Ishant Sharma as he walked back to his mark. Too bad they couldn’t ace the final touch. Holder survives.

After 12 overs,West Indies 28/6 ( Roston Chase 6 , Jason Holder (C) 0)

Bumrah troubles Holder at the outset. The ball pitching around off and staying its course. Holder is left in two minds and ultimately draws his bat back in time to save the edge. Holder gets off strike with a leg bye and Chase survives the final ball.

A bowling masterclass on display at Antigua at the moment

And now proving Bumrah can send the right-hander's stumps cartwheeling too.

Fast bowling masterclass on show.#WIvIND #INDvWI

— Suneer (@suneerchowdhary) August 25, 2019

OUT!

This is proving to be a frequent sight now. Bumrah’s nonchalance as he takes wickets with remarkable ease. Pitches it around off and gets the ball to move just the hint away, beating the outside edge and disturbing the off-stump. Hope goes for 2 and Bumrah gets his fourth. 

After 11 overs,West Indies 27/5 ( Roston Chase 6 , Shai Hope (W) 2)

A vicious in-swinger from Ishant Sharma splits Shai Hope wide open. There’s a loud appeal from the Indian fielder but the umpire is not convinced. Kohli decides against the review and Hope negotiates the remaining two deliveries in the over which goes for a maiden.

After 10 overs,West Indies 26/5 ( Roston Chase 6 , Shai Hope (W) 1)

The Indian bowlers are extracting a lot more swing with the new ball here than the Windies bowlers. That could be attributed to the seam movement and a better technique perhaps. Bumrah bowls fuller and Chase does well to get behind it and not looking to drive.

Each of the top-five Windies batsmen dismissed for a single digit score in a Test innings:

v Australia, Port of Spain, 1999
v England, Lord’s, 2000
v Australia, Melbourne, 2000
v Sri Lanka, Bridgetown, 2018
v India, North Sound, 2019*

After 9 overs,West Indies 25/5 ( Roston Chase 6 , Shai Hope (W) 0)

Ishant Sharma tries some variations in his length. Follows up the fuller ball with the bouncer and Chase ducks under. The final ball swings a bit too much, almost all in the air, straying on Chase’s pads, going down for four leg byes. Welcome runs for the Windies.

FOUR!

Ishant Sharma gets some swing in the air, gets the ball to come back viciously for the stumps. Chase does well to step across and flick it off his pads for a four down square leg. He gets off the mark in some style.

After 8 overs,West Indies 15/5 ( Roston Chase 0 , Shai Hope (W) 0)

Bumrah completes a tidy over. Hope blocks everything that comes his way. West Indies need more of that.

The players are making their way back to the field. Jasprit Bumrah will complete his over and Shai Hope will take strike for the final session of play today.

Turning into a procession this, and an embarrassing one at that. They had just 25 minutes to bat before tea, and in the 45 balls that were delivered, they’ve lost five wickets – and had one catch dropped too. 

Some of the shots were needless, but Bumrah has been all over WI and Ishant is inching towards a 10-for. 

Ironically enough, the next three batsmen in line – Chase, Hope and Holder – might offer the best shot at West Indies taking this to Monday, although the odds for that would be incredibly slim. 

Could someone transport Ben Stokes to Antigua?

After 7.3 overs, West Indies 15/5 ( Roston Chase 0 , )

It’s been a heavily one-sided session for India who can’t go slow. Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant Sharma are bowling tandem, nightmarish line and lengths from both ends for the West Indies batsmen. TEA is called and India would be itching to get back to the field and get this done with.

OUT! 

This is DEJA VU. Very much like the Campbell dismissal. Bumrah pitches it at off and the ball angles inwards, drawing a shot from Bravo who leaves a gap between the bat and pad. The stumps are rattled, again. Bravo goes for 2. Bumrah gets his third.

After 7 overs,West Indies 13/4 ( Darren Bravo 0 , )

Amazing stuff from Ishant Sharma. Strays from his line for just the one delivery which gets the single off the leg bye. Brings Hetmyer on strike who isn’t in a mood to stay for long. He gets out off the final delivery of the over.

OUT!

Ah not again! It’s a poor shot from Hetmyer. Should have seen how Bravo was leaving the balls outside off. He can’t though. Looks to play a drive on the up at a ball pitched outside off. The ball flies after taking the edge and Rahane pockets it at third slip. Hetmyer goes for 1. Second wicket for Ishant Sharma.

After 6 overs,West Indies 11/3 ( Darren Bravo 0 , Shimron Hetmyer 1)

DROPPED! Bumrah does it again, the good length ball pitching at middle and straightening thereon. Takes the edge from Hetmyer but Kohli fails to hold on for a one-handed wonder while Rahul too, fails to get it on the rebound. It was a difficult chance though, the ball dipping steadily. It’s a maiden over.

After 5 overs,West Indies 11/3 ( Darren Bravo 0 , Shimron Hetmyer 1)

Ishant Sharma welcomes Bravo with a barrage of short stuff. Bravo gets one on the hips and can’t work it for a single. He gets beaten by the second which swings away from him and then, knuckles under the final delivery which takes off after pitching, only to be stopped by Rishabh Pant who does well to get a glove on the ball. Exciting stuff here.

About as disastrous a start as West Indies could have to the mountainous task ahead of them. Jasprit Bumrah knocks down the openers in his first two overs, and Ishant Sharma traps newcomer Brooks. WI were never going to be in with a real shot, but Kraigg Brathwaite and Joel Campbell should be having a hard think about whether they really needed to go for the shots they did.

Twenty percent chance of precipitation on Day 5, but is the game even going to  last till then?

OUT!

Now Ishant Sharma gets into the act. He pitches it full and straight, the ball seaming inwards in its flight. Shamarh Brooks gets late in bringing his bat down. He falls lbw and goes for 2. India don’t want to take this to the fifth day it seems. 

After 4 overs,West Indies 10/2 ( Shamarh Brooks 2 , Darren Bravo 0)

Two of the Windies batsmen won’t be having their tea I feel. For others, it will be a pretty solemn affair. This is going from bad to worse for the home side.

Jasprit Bumrah in Test cricket:

Bowling average / SR / Wickets

1st innings : 22.33 / 50.4 / 27
2nd innings : 21.91 / 48.6 / 24

OUT!

Bumrah is running through this West Indies lineup. He got the first couple of balls to angle in on the legs. The next couple were outside off and then! He pitches one at good-length, in line with the wicket and the ball nips inwards as Campbell is drawn into playing straight. He misses his shot and the ball rattles his stumps. Campbell goes for 7.

After 3 overs,West Indies 7/1 ( John Campbell 6 , Shamarh Brooks 0)

Ishant Sharma bowls the same probing line to Campbell in the corridor. He beats the edge of the bat by a whisker for his third ball of the over. Campbell remains glued to the crease, not much foot work. He defends the remaining deliveries firmly and surely, on the front-foot.

After 2 overs,West Indies 7/1 ( John Campbell 6 , Shamarh Brooks 0)

Bumrah gets the wicket of Brathwaite off just his fourth ball. Easy pickings for him. Shamarh Brooks walks in and defends the remaining two deliveries in the over.

OUT!

That was easy! Bumrah gets one to angle away and Brathwaite can’t leave it alone. He goes fishing for it and hands an easy catch to Pant, falls for just one. Ideal start for India.

After 1 overs,West Indies 6/0 ( Kraigg Brathwaite 1 , John Campbell 5)

Ishant gives it all. He had some repair work done near the landing area for his back leg but still falls over as he bowls the third ball. Campbell plays at one tentatively and gets a lucky boundary off the fourth ball before taking a single off the final delivery and retaining strike.

FOUR!

John Campbell plays at one with loose hands, just looking to defend it but the ball takes the edge and pierces the gap between slips and gully for four.

Hanuma Vihari falls just short of a maiden hundred in international cricket. Got to feel for the man, but beginning to become a bigger fan of his with every passing day – as much for his mindset as his batting. 

We speak of selflessness, and playing for the cause, as high reflectors of team success, and in his last few outings Vihari has done just that. Opened the batting at the MCG and stayed long enough to make it the longest opening stand for India in AUS/ENG/NZ/SA in nearly a decade. Now had an easy hundred for the taking but didn’t slow down the pace of the team and the need for quick runs.

The players are back on the field after that very short recess. We are still at least 45 minutes before Tea and it will be fun to see India going for that early wicket. Kraigg Brathwaite takes strike against Ishant Sharma.

Virat Kohli is in a joyful mood, pulls off some Dandiya moves to the beats of a drum reverberating through the ground. 

And we are off…

The highest target successfully chased by West Indies in the fourth innings in Tests,

Overall : 418 v Australia, St John’s, 2003
Against India : 276, Delhi, 1987

Did you know?

The last Indian batsman to be dismissed in nervous 90s in Tests in West Indies before Hanuma Vihari was Rahul Dravid (91 runs in the first innings at St John’s in 2002).

After 112.3 overs,India 343/7 ( Ravindra Jadeja 1 , ) 

India declare at 343/7, setting the West Indies a target of 419 to win. The home side will have to play out of their skins to win this one. They do have plenty of time to get there but the target is daunting to say the least. It will be a record run chase, the highest ever for the fourth innings in Test cricket history. Virat Kohli has shown the smarts here, getting the Windies to bat for a bit before Tea.

OUT!

Vihari falls while playing not selfish but for the team’s cause. It’s not a good delivery from Holder, straying down the leg side but Vihari looks to pull and gets a glove on it, handing an easy catch to Shai Hope behind the stumps. He falls for 93.

FOUR!

Vihari shows how it’s done and Pant should be taking notes from the dressing room. He gets down on his knees and moves across for the ball pitching outside off, slog sweeps it over mid-wicket and gets to 93

OUT!

Rishabh Pant falls for just 7 in his bid to accelerate. Gets down on his knees and looks to play a slog sweep over fine leg. He doesn’t get the elevation and Keemo Paul slides in for a good catch. Virat Kohli signals from the dressing room for Vihari to bat on. No declaration from India yet.

After 111 overs,India 334/5 ( Hanuma Vihari 86 , Rishabh Pant (W) 6)

Rishabh Pant looks to play his shots. He gets an overpitched delivery outside off from Holder. He strikes hard at it but fails to get it past the fielder at mid-off. The next ball, Holder jumps him again. Pant looks to play the uppercut but the ball taps him on the handle of his bat. Another lethal bouncer from Holder to Vihari who is not playing safe. Exciting times these.

FOUR!

Jason Holder is bowling some good bouncers here. He jumps Vihari, gets one to go at the batsman’s head. Vihari looks to pull blindly but the ball is rising and gets the outside edge off his bat. The ball falls safely even as the fielder from fine leg is running in. He can’t hold on and the ball escapes his hands, trundles to the boundary.

After 110 overs,India 329/5 ( Hanuma Vihari 82 , Rishabh Pant (W) 5)

Just a run of the mill over. Shannon Gabriel steaming in but failing to put Vihari in a spot of bother. India’s lead is worth 404 now.

After 109 overs,India 326/5 ( Hanuma Vihari 81 , Rishabh Pant (W) 3)

This is a perfect occasion for Rishabh Pant with India in all likelihood, looking to declare after this session. He gets off the mark with a square cut off a rising delivery straying outside off from Jason Holder.

The next ball, Holder cramps him from room with a slower bouncer going down the middle. Pant plays the uppercut but doesn’t get the leverage. Shai Hope leaps and almost pockets it but the ball bounces off his fingers and falls to safety.

After 108 overs,India 322/5 ( Hanuma Vihari 80 , )

Shannon Gabriel gets one to nip inwards from short of length and Rahane looks to flick to the leg side but gets hit over his pads. West Indies review but alas, it’s umpire’s call. No respite for Gabriel who’s going wicket-less this innings but not for long. Rahane looks to get aggressive now but holes out to cover. West Indies get a break from their misery. India lead by 397 and Rishabh Pant walks in.

OUT!

Gabriel gets his first and it’s Rahane. The ball pitches at good length and the ball is rising when Rahane looks to play it on the up but gets an edge, skying it towards cover where Jason Holder is alert. Rahane goes for 102.

After 107 overs,India 320/4 ( Ajinkya Rahane 100 , Hanuma Vihari 80)

Ah! The agony of being Kemar Roach. He would have stopped counting the near misses for the batsman off his bowling. How many times has he beaten the batsmen already today? How many times has he beaten Vihari today? That will throw up some interesting stats. Till then, Roach is keeping to his haunches asking the almighty what more he needs to do to get a wicket today.

After 106 overs,India 320/4 ( Ajinkya Rahane 100 , Hanuma Vihari 80)

The fielders are trundling from the infield to the outfield. The field placement isn’t inspiring from the West Indies. There is just the one slip in place for Shannon Gabriel as he bangs it short and lets the ball stray down the leg side. Easy singles for Vihari and Rahane who can flick off their hips all day long.

Ajinkya Rahane fights off the critics in style

Well played @ajinkyarahane88, Test century was long overdue.

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) August 25, 2019

SIX!

A gorgeous uppercut from Vihari. It’s a dolly from Shannon Gabriel. The intention is there to bowl a bouncer but the line stray a bit too outside off and Vihari has plenty of room to get a touch on the ball and guide it over third man for six. He gets to 79.

Stop press: The drought has ended for Ajinkya Rahane! 

The Indian vice-captain, without a Test century since Aug 2017, finally crosses three figures. He’ll feel a massive weight lifting off his shoulders, will Rahane, but how fitting that a marquee Test for him comes, yet again, with Rahane standing head-and-shoulders above the rest of the batting in the game. Think the twin tons on the Kotla minefield against South Africa, or the hundred at Lord’s batting along with the tail a year before that. Great news for Indian Test cricket. 

Now for Vihari to match his partner.

Most tons for Indian batsmen batting at No.5 or lower in Tests:

20 – Mohammad Azharuddin
11 – VVS Laxman
10 – Sourav Ganguly, Polly Umrigar 
9 – Ajinkya Rahane*
8 – Kapil Dev

After 105 overs,India 311/4 ( Ajinkya Rahane 100 , Hanuma Vihari 71)

India will look to get their foot firmly on the pedal now. The signal should be on its way from the dressing room. We might see a recalibration of the approach from India post the first drinks break.

HUNDRED!

And he gets it! What a Test match for Rahane. 81 in the first innings and now a century in the second innings. He gets to his 10th Test hundred. More importantly, it’s his first in two years and he can finally let his sceptics retire to oblivion. His contribution to the No 1 Test team in the world cannot be understated.

After 104 overs,India 307/4 ( Ajinkya Rahane 99 , Hanuma Vihari 68)

Rahane gets to the pitch of the ball from Chase and plays it towards mid-off for a quick single. He gets another single off the last ball of the over and is at 99 now. People are bound to be feeling the jitters here.

FOUR!

Roston Chase is bowling full and not helping himself. Vihari negates the spin on the ball, if any by advancing and drives it back past the bowler for four.

After 103 overs,India 298/4 ( Ajinkya Rahane 95 , Hanuma Vihari 63)

Rahane cuts one through the square region for a single and moves to 95. Vihari gets beaten by Roach on the final delivery of the over. Same old luck for Roach who can’t seem to get the edge off the bat.

After 102 overs,India 295/4 ( Ajinkya Rahane 93 , Hanuma Vihari 62)

Chase bowls to Vihari who takes a single off the second ball to give the strike to Rahane, who keeps the ones and twos coming. Vihari strikes a boundary off the last delivery of the over and India’s intent is clear.

FOUR!

Vihari strikes a lusty blow through midwicket for four off Chase’s bowling. He gets his feet in play, dances down the wicket and slams the converted full-toss. He looks confident here.

The players are making their way back and all eyes will be on Rahane who’s nearing that elusive hundred. He will resume at 90 and India might wait around for their vice-captain to reach his milestone before the instructions come from the dressing room to attack and play quickfire, possibly let Rishabh Pant bat before they declare! It’s all India here.

Solid effort from Vihari through this Test to silence those who felt Rohit Sharma automatically deserved to displace him from the XI? This is no criticism of Rohit, for his Test performances the limited occasions he played last year were better than the numbers suggest. But Vihari has done nothing to be benched — even taking on the most alien of roles when he opened the batting in the MCG Test against Australia. Through his contributions in this game, he’s showing the critics why he has the backing of the team management.

After 101 overs,India 287/4 ( Ajinkya Rahane 90 , Hanuma Vihari 57)

What a session for India. More so for Vihari. He has previously shown promise in trying conditions in England. Gets to his second Test fifty and stakes his claim to a permanent spot in the India lineup. Lunch is called with India in the driver’s seat. There’s a reason to anticipate some fireworks post-lunch as India will look to gain a hefty lead and ask the Windies to bat after Tea in the final session of the day.

HUNDRED PARTNERSHIP

Vihari takes a single on the leg side and brings up the 100 run partnership with Rahane just as lunch is called. India at 287-4 and will look to play aggressively after lunch.

FOUR!

Vihari sweeps down the leg side off the bowling of Cambell for a four down fine leg. The Rahane-Vihari partnership gets to 99.

After 100 overs,India 281/4 ( Ajinkya Rahane 89 , Hanuma Vihari 52)

Chase comes around the wicket and gets his deliveries to come back in when pitching a bit outside leg. There’s some bounce too. Chase then goes full and concedes the odd single from Rahane. Just the one run from the over.

ARISE, SIR BEN STOKES!

On the other side of the Pond, Ben Stokes pulls off the chase of a lifetime at Headingley, remaining unbeaten on 135 to help England pull off a thrilling one-wicket win over Australia after being set an improbably 359-run target. Check out the full scorecard of what will go down as one of the greatest Tests of all time here .

After 99 overs,India 280/4 ( Ajinkya Rahane 88 , Hanuma Vihari 52)

Holder concedes just the one run from this over. He’s manning his end well. It’s the wickets which aren’t coming and the hosts seem to be just waiting for India to declare now.

India No.4, No.5 and No.6, each batsman scoring 50-plus runs in the second innings of an away Test:

v New Zealand, Napier, 2009 
v West Indies, North Sound, 2019*

After 98 overs,India 279/4 ( Ajinkya Rahane 87 , Hanuma Vihari 52)

India march on comfortably. Both batsmen continue taking their ones and twos. Three runs from this Chase over. Rahane-Vihari nearing their 100-run partnership.

After 97 overs,India 276/4 ( Ajinkya Rahane 85 , Hanuma Vihari 51)

Virat Kohli has just taken his seat in the balcony again. He seems to have been watching the Ashes Test too for he’s smiling over that dreamy England victory. Meanwhile, Vihari gets to his second Test half-century and is looking in good touch here. India’s lead goes past 354.

FIFTY!

Vihari gets there in style, drives the fullish delivery from Holder down the ground for four, just as Ben Stokes caps off a thrilling comeback for England in the third Ashes Test.

After 96 overs,India 270/4 ( Ajinkya Rahane 85 , Hanuma Vihari 45)

Both batsmen are approaching their milestones now. The West Indies fielders’ shoulders have slumped further. They can’t seem to get a hold on the brisk Indian run rate.

FOUR!

Vihari sweeps down the leg side. He doesn’t make the mistake of getting too far across as did KL Rahul. Guides the ball down fine leg for four. A ball later, he flicks one off his toes for a four past midwicket. He moves into his 40s.

After 95 overs,India 260/4 ( Ajinkya Rahane 84 , Hanuma Vihari 36)

It’s a quaint setting here. The stands are empty. There isn’t much chatter being generated by the West Indies in-fielders. The batsmen are biding their time until the signal comes from the dressing room to start attacking. Remember, there’s a heavy tail left to come, Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja being the key.

After 94 overs,India 260/4 ( Ajinkya Rahane 84 , Hanuma Vihari 36)

Rahane plays a drive for four, Vihari takes a single off the last ball and retains the strike. India’s lead stands at 335 now.

FOUR!

Chase gives it some flight but Rahane doesn’t let it pitch, advancing down and taking it on the full, a drive for four down long-on where the fielder can only fetch the ball. He moves into the 80s with this shot.

After 93 overs,India 254/4 ( Ajinkya Rahane 79 , Hanuma Vihari 35)

The pitch has slowed down here and things have gotten easier for the Indian batsmen. Holder is bowling at below 80 mph now. The most the West Indies bowlers can do is ace their line and length and hope for the swing and the elusive edge off the bat. Rahane ends the over, playing a cut for a single and retains the strike.

How good is it to see Ajinkya Rahane back in the runs? 81 in the first innings, nearing the same in the second – that’s as many half-centuries in this Test as he had since the start of 2018. A good amount of doggedness, a visibly determined effort. Bodes well for the Indian Test setup.

After 92 overs,India 251/4 ( Ajinkya Rahane 77 , Hanuma Vihari 34)

Roston Chase bowls another tidy over but there isn’t much troubling the Indian batsmen here. The ones and twos are coming at will and there aren’t many hits and misses. Smooth sailing for the visitors here.

After 91 overs,India 248/4 ( Ajinkya Rahane 75 , Hanuma Vihari 33)

Holder brings his line in check after being hit for four by Rahane. Continues to bowl the good length deliveries just angling around off.

FOUR!

Jason Holder strays from his usual short of length routine and Rahane punishes him. This one’s pitched a tad too full and Rahane plays at it with a full flourish of the bat, an expansive cover drive for four.

After 90 overs,India 243/4 ( Ajinkya Rahane 70 , Hanuma Vihari 33)

Roston Chase back into the attack. There isn’t much Jason Holder can do here if his fast bowlers can’t keep fit for long spells. Chase keeps getting the ball and has done a good job with it thus far. He concedes just a couple of this over.

After 89 overs,India 241/4 ( Ajinkya Rahane 70 , Hanuma Vihari 31)

Roach keeps it tight to Rahane and bowls a maiden. Then goes off the field. There’s some constant treatment needed for the fast bowlers here. Miguel Cummins is off the field too.

After 88 overs,India 241/4 ( Ajinkya Rahane 70 , Hanuma Vihari 31)

Jason Holder brings himself into the attack and gets some natural bounce off the pitch, getting the Indian vice-captain to hop a bit as he looks to get bat on the ball. Rahane plays a cut of a delivery which jagged back just the tad bit. The ball seemed to be going past the third slip until Shamarh Brooks leapt and pocketed the ball in flight. Vihari plays at one slightly outside off with loose hands, the ball goes through the slips for three runs.

After 87 overs,India 238/4 ( Ajinkya Rahane 69 , Hanuma Vihari 29)

Vihari gets on the back-foot to block a short ball from Roach, guides it past the third slip for a couple. He negotiates the change in length from the bowler and plays out the over.

FIFTY PARTNERSHIP!

It’s come in no time, just over 80 balls owing to Vihari’s brisk strike rate. Onwards and upwards for India

Play resumes. There’s some gloomy weather here and the fielders look dispirited, their shoulders drooping as the batsmen walk to the crease.

After 86 overs,India 236/4 ( Ajinkya Rahane 69 , Hanuma Vihari 27)

Vihari defends off the back-foot and both batsmen cross for a run as the fielder from cover runs in. Shannon Gabriel is clutching at his knees after his routine. The follow-through has shortened. There’s something paining the bowler and it feels like he’s bothered by his toes. Gabriel barely manages to complete the over and there are some DRINKS waiting for him as the short break ensues.

Really impressed by Hanuma Vihari’s start. Played his shots from the time he came in — and none of them risky, mostly proper cricket shots. ‘Intent’ is such a buzzword in Indian cricket under its present Kohli-Shastri regime, the captain and coach would be pleased at the moment.

After 85 overs,India 232/4 ( Ajinkya Rahane 66 , Hanuma Vihari 26)

Kemar Roach has been pretty consistent with bowling good-length and getting his deliveries to move both inwards or keep straight after pitching. Keeps the batsman guessing, beats Vihari on three occasions this over with his leg-cutters. This is quality seam bowling from Roach

After 84 overs,India 232/4 ( Ajinkya Rahane 66 , Hanuma Vihari 26)

Shannon Gabriel is keeping his deliveries full for Vihari and gets some movement inwards which might suggest that he’s got a plan on his mind. Bowls a short ball to Rahane, and the Indian vice-captain is quick to get on the back foot and work it towards long leg off his hips. The singles keep coming. There’s plenty of space in the in-field. Rahane at 66.

FOUR! 

Shannon Gabriel was going for a yorker but Vihari gets a lower full toss instead. He remains unfazed, plays a drive down long-on for four.

After 83 overs,India 223/4 ( Ajinkya Rahane 62 , Hanuma Vihari 21)

Kemar Roach strays from his length once and it goes down fine leg for four byes. Otherwise, it’s a tight over. Rahane defends well with a sure-footed front foot defence shot.

After 82 overs,India 217/4 ( Ajinkya Rahane 60 , Hanuma Vihari 21)

Pace from both ends. Shannon Gabriel overpitches his first ball outside off. Vihari plays a good-looking square drive for a couple. The next ball though, jags back in from a good length and Vihari is beaten. That’s the way things ought to be done by the home side. Their seamers have looked good. Although, the weather may have a role to play in them getting shorter spells. It’s humid here in North Sound and we saw Kemar Roach and Miguel Cummins cramping and going off the field for a bit yesterday.

FOUR!

Vihari drives a good length delivery from Shannon Gabriel down the ground for four. He moves to 21 off just 26 balls.

Indian No.5 batsmen with two fifty-plus scores in a Test in West Indies:

Polly Umrigar, Port of Spain, 1953
Polly Umrigar, Port of Spain, 1953
Ajinkya Rahane, North Sound, 2019*

After 81 overs,India 211/4 ( Ajinkya Rahane 60 , Hanuma Vihari 15)

West Indies get the new ball and Kemar Roach is the first to get a crack at it and rightly so. First up, he rushes Rahane with one that skids, the Indian vice-captain getting an inside edge onto his thigh. The third ball of the over, Roach gets more bounce than expected and Rahane adjusts in time, taking his hand of the handle. Roach finishes the over with a probing line and length outside off which Rahane leaves alone.

After 80 overs,India 211/4 ( Ajinkya Rahane 60 , Hanuma Vihari 15)

It’s a plainly defensive approach from the home side here. The field isn’t complementing Chase’s bowling and Vihari is off to a brisk start, having scored 15 off the 20 balls he has faced.

After 79 overs,India 208/4 ( Ajinkya Rahane 58 , Hanuma Vihari 14)

John Campbell comes into the attack to bowl his off-cutters. No trouble whatsoever for the Indian batsmen. Both Rahane and Vihari rotate the strike with ease. The last delivery goes for four byes as Vihari attempts a paddle sweep. He needs to be careful here.

Did you know?

The highest fourth innings target set by India in West Indies in Tests is 392 which they set up at St John’s in 2006. The Test was ended in a draw.

After 78 overs,India 200/4 ( Ajinkya Rahane 57 , Hanuma Vihari 11)

Vihari gets a couple of the first ball, then cuts the next one past point for three runs. Rahane blocks the rest by advancing to the pitch of the delivery. India reach the 200 run mark.

After 77 overs,India 195/4 ( Ajinkya Rahane 57 , Hanuma Vihari 6)

Rahane looks good. Full-length deliveries and he plays at them with a full face of the bat. Drives the final delivery of the over where it finds the mid-on fielder.

After 76 overs,India 195/4 ( Ajinkya Rahane 57 , Hanuma Vihari 6)

Chase continues bowling length and it doesn’t bother Rahane. The singles are coming easily at the moment. But with Chase, a wicket seems just around the corner.

After 75 overs,India 192/4 ( Ajinkya Rahane 56 , Hanuma Vihari 4)

Vihari gets off the mark with ease on his first ball. Flicks a delivery straying on his pads for a couple off Cummins’ bowling. He’ll have a lot of time today to get his eye in and better that first innings score.

How uncharacteristic from Virat Kohli, when was the last time you saw something like that from him? The first ball he faced in the morning, and he made a silly error. Even the best can be human then! 

Interesting to see how this alters whatever the game plan for the day was from an Indian perspective. One would imagine the original thought would have been for the two half-centurions to get in for the day and then get a move on. Onus, like the first innings, on Rahane now.

After 74 overs,India 188/4 ( Ajinkya Rahane 55 , Hanuma Vihari 1)

Spin from the other end, Roston Chase into the attack. He hasn’t looked particularly threatening but did take a couple of wickets yesterday owing to some questionable shot selection from the Indian openers KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal. His first over today and he does it again. There’s something about it him which Jason Holder sees and perhaps not us who are always pining for the Windies to get Kemar Roach into the attack.

OUT!

Roston Chase does it again. Takes a wicket out of nowhere. Gives the ball some flight and pitches it at good length.Virat Kohli looks to flick it to the leg side but gets a leading edge and holes out to extra cover where John Campbell pockets it. Lucky break for the Windies here. Kohli departs for 51, India 187-4.

After 73 overs,India 186/3 ( Virat Kohli (C) 51 , Ajinkya Rahane 54)

Cummins bowls to the body of Rahane. A tight line but there isn’t much seam on offer and the speed is sluggish to say the least, just touching 80 mph. Rahane blocks with the good length deliveries with ease and takes a single off the last ball to retain the strike.

The players are making their way to the ground. Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane to resume India’s innings at 185/3. Quite a sight. The Indian captain and his deputy guiding their team to a commanding lead, as they’ve done so often. Let’s see what they have in store for us. Miguel Cummins with the ball. And we are off…

Some news on Steve Smith, who hasn’t taken the field since the first innings of the Lord’s Test after failing a concussion test. The Aussie batting star is set to play Australia’s tour match against Derbyshire ahead of the fourth Test at Manchester. Read more here .

We are looking at a full day’s play with Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane having warmed up with fifties yesterday.The writing is on the wall – it’s a tough position for the West Indies here. They need some wickets at the outset and keep the Indian lead within reach. Shannon Gabriel and Kemar Roach will be key for the hosts. Lots to look forward to.

While we wait for the day’s cricketing action to commence in Antigua, you can switch tabs and follow the third Ashes Test match between England and Australia at Leeds . While the hosts are still fighting back to keep themselves alive, Aussies are just six wickets away from regaining the urn.

West Indies skipper Jason Holder expressed concerns on his team’s top-order failure , and said that the overall batting lineup must improve. The hosts were bundled out for 222 in their first innings.

Meanwhile, KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal’s shot selection in the second innings on Saturday has proved that the duo has a lot to learn and a long way to go to become India’s established Test openers. Read more on that here .

India opening batsman KL Rahul has said that patience is key in order to prolong his stint at the crease. Read more on what he said after he got dismissed for 38 runs on Saturday.

Hello and welcome to Firstpost’s LIVE blog for the fourth day of the first Test between West Indies and India.

The tourists find themselves in a commanding position at the start of the penultimate day of the Test, sitting on a hefty lead of 260 runs with middle order mainstay Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane both still batting. The captain-vice-captain duo have notched their individual fifties and will look to solidify their position of strength.

The hosts require quick wickets to comeback in the match before it is too late. Kemar Roach has looked the best of the lot and the Windies will be hoping that he could provide few early wickets in the morning session.

Stay tuned as we build towards the start of play