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Day Four Report India’s wait for an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series against a lacklustre West Indies continued as incessant rains forced an early end to the fourth day’s play of the second Test at the Sabina Park in Kingston on Tuesday. A little under 16 overs of play was possible in which the hosts at 48/4 in their second innings managed to push themselves nearly to the brink of yet another embarrassing defeat. [caption id=“attachment_2921604” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] India are six wickets away from a win in the second Test at Jamaica. AP[/caption] India were on course for another win with the bowlers taking four quick wickets during the rain-curtailed pre-lunch session, but the rains returned just a few minutes before the scheduled resumption of play. No play was possible thereafter, with the day called off. With the West Indies still trailing by 256 runs, they will try to save the match on day five, with play scheduled to begin at 9.30 a.m. local time and 98 overs to be bowled in the day. Earlier, Indian bowlers continued to pile up the misery on the hosts, with pacer Mohammed Shami taking two wickets while Ishant Sharma and leg-spinner Amit Mishra scalped one each. After the start of the match was delayed by an hour and 15 minutes, India removed Rajendra Chandrika (1), who had pacer Sharma’s ball kiss his elbow as he tried to leave the ball before it hit the stumps. Before rain interrupted the play again, India gave away only six runs before heading to the pavilion. After a 30-minute rain-enforced break, India were again right on the money, even though Kraigg Braithwaite (23) and Darren Bravo (20) showed some resistance. Right-hander Braightwaite skied Mishra and it was followed by a running catch from KL Rahul as the West Indies lost their second wicket for 41 runs. Afterwards, Shami operated with a probing line and bagged two quick wickets. While veteran right-hander Marlon Samuels was clean bowled after missing the line, left-hander Bravo succumbed to a rising ball, ending up nudging a catch to Rahul at third slip as the West Indies plunged to 48/4. Jermaine Blackwood was batting on 3 as the ball that dismissed Bravo was the final one before lunch was called. With India only six wickets away from a victory, Virat Kohli and his men will be hoping for a clear sunny day on Wednesday.
India vs West Indies 2nd Test, Day 5, as it happened: Chase, Holder secure draw for hosts!
Catch the Live updates of Day five of the second Test between India and West Indies at Jamaica as visitors close in on a win.
 "India vs West Indies 2nd Test, Day 5, as it happened: Chase, Holder secure draw for hosts!")
Virat Kohli: It was testing. That’s what Test cricket is all about. Give credit to West Indies for the way they played today. First 4 days the wicket was pretty lively. The hardness of the ball was a factor. If the ball isn’t hard enough the play goes dead. I don’t want to walk away from the field wishing that we had a fifth bowler as well.
If the opposition plays better than you in a couple of sessions, you have to take your hat off and say ‘Well played".
If we had lesser lead, I would have had used different tactics in the first session. We would have been more defensive.
In only his second Test, #RostonChase is trending on Twitter. Good news for @westindies and for this series. #WIvIND
— Anand Vasu (@anandvasu) August 3, 2016
A five-bowler attack couldn't take six wickets on a fifth day pitch. Exceptional batting from Roston Chase. #IndvsWI
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) August 3, 2016
Last time India couldn't win a Test after scoring 500+ was in 2010 against SL at Colombo (SSC) where they made 707 after SL's 642/4 dec.
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) August 3, 2016
Boy what an incredible day it must have been for a West Indian fan! From a shaky position of 48/4, from where a collapse seemed like the likeliest result, the WI middle-order rallied brilliantly, as many as four middle-order batsmen getting fifty-plus scores (a century in Chase’s case!). Goes to show that one cannot completely write the West Indians off in Test cricket! (Remember the 1-1 draw against England last year).
Anyway, India still the lead the series 1-0, and expect them to come down on the hosts harder than ever at St Lucia. However, West Indies have given themeselves some genuine hope after this effort, and the confidence that they will derive from this showing should make for a much better display at the Daren Sammy Stadium.
After 104 overs,West Indies 388/6 ( Roston Chase 137 , Jason Holder (C) 64)
That’s it! The 2nd Test between India and West Indies comes to an end, with the latter reaching a score of 388/6 after 104 overs thanks to some steadfast batting, before the two captains shake hands at the end of the day’s play! What an incredible day of Test cricket we just witnessed!
After 100 overs,West Indies 374/6 ( Roston Chase 132 , Jason Holder (C) 55)
Holder gets a bit of a bat/pad off a flighted delivery from Ashwin, and the ball lands just short of Pujara at forward short-leg. Would’ve been a difficult one, but was a chance nevertheless, and boy is Kohli displeased with that effort!
Meanwhile, Holder joins the party by bringing up his fourth Test fifty in his 82nd delivery, lofting the second ball of the 98th over towards long-off to get there in style!
50+ scores for Nos. 5, 6, 7 and 8
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) August 3, 2016
Blackwood, Chase, Dowrich, Holder
Great fightback by Windies #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/dQZPItxgIK
First time West Indies' No.5, 6, 7, 8 all made 50+ in a Test innings. Fifth instance among all teams #WIvIND
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) August 3, 2016
SIX! And now Holder brings up his fifty in style! Gets there in 82 balls; WI 370/6https://t.co/BesAanNR0G #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/hOaEXzLPwV
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) August 3, 2016
After 95 overs,West Indies 360/6 ( Roston Chase 127 , Jason Holder (C) 46)
Both Chase and Holder are looking increasingly confident with each passing delivery (and occasionally, a boundary) as the hosts cross the 350-run mark with ease. The West Indies skipper is just a hit-to-the-fence away from bringing up his half-century, which will be the fourth this innings! What an innings the hosts are producing right now!
No. of 50+ partnerships for WI in this #WIvInd series:
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) August 3, 2016
First 3 inns - 4 50+ pships
This inns - 3 50+ pships
After 90 overs,West Indies 333/6 ( Roston Chase 119 , Jason Holder (C) 27)
Outside edge off Holder’s bat sends the second ball of the final session towards the third-man boundary. Shami nearly gets the WI skipper a couple of overs later with a short ball that the tall all-rounder tries to fend with his gloves, with the ball falling just short of the wicketkeeper.
After 85 overs,West Indies 319/6 ( Roston Chase 112 , Jason Holder (C) 21)
The new ball is taken after the 80th over, and Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami return to the attack in a desperate bid to get rid of a batsman or two, preferrably Chase. No misfires by either Chase or Holder, with both looking rock solid as the hosts head to tea on a score of 319/6, with 104 runs coming off the 2nd session for the loss of just one wicket (which was of course an umpiring howler!).
The hosts lead by 15 right now, and Chase will only further cement himself as a reliable middle-order pillar if he can guide the hosts to a draw from here.
After 80 overs,West Indies 306/6 ( Roston Chase 110 , Jason Holder (C) 10)
Chase cuts away towards third-man off a short, wide ball from Ashwin to bring up the 300 for West Indies, before taking a single in the next delivery to bring the scores level with the Indians, before moving ahead of them. Though they have managed to stave off an innings loss, the West Indians still have to bat for the rest of the day to secure a draw.
Well he certainly isn’t the only one with that notion is he?
West Indies are surprising a few people (myself included!). What a day for Roston Chase!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 3, 2016
After 75 overs,West Indies 287/6 ( Roston Chase 100 , Jason Holder (C) 1)
MAIDEN CENTURY for Roston Chase! And he gets there with a single in only his second Test appearance, in which he also got his maiden five-wicket haul! What a match he is having right now, and getting West Indies to a draw would be the cherry on top!
Roston Chase 4th West Indian to do the double of 5 wkts and 100 runs in same Test. The last Garry Sobers exactly 50 years ago!#WIvIND
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) August 3, 2016
Chase is on the verge of something really spectacular. This has been a masterful effort with the bat.#WIvInd #IndvsWI
— Suneer (@suneerchowdhary) August 3, 2016
After 70 overs,West Indies 270/5 ( Roston Chase 97 , Shane Dowrich (W) 61)
Rahane nearly pulls off a stunning catch at the slips when Dowrich edges a Mishra delivery along the middle-stump while playing against the turn. Was too wide of Rahane, who manages to hold on to the ball for a moment, before it pops out. Meanwhile, Chase is on the verge of his maiden Test ton!
Records are starting to tumble for the hosts already!
This is West Indies' highest total of the series, highest partnership of the series and Chase' score is the highest by their batsmen.
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) August 3, 2016
After 65 overs,West Indies 248/5 ( Roston Chase 83 , Shane Dowrich (W) 53)
After the half-centuries from West Indies’ middle-order trio of Blackwood, Chase and Dowrich, the latter two bring up the century partnership for the sixth wicket, which is also the first century partnership for any wicket for the hosts in this series! Big step forward for the hosts, as their next aim will be to bat the remainder of the day out!
2004 - The last time West Indies' No. 5, 6, 7 all made 50+ scores before today, against Eng at Old Trafford. #WIvIND
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) August 3, 2016
After 60 overs,West Indies 240/5 ( Roston Chase 78 , Shane Dowrich (W) 50)
West Indies continue to score freely at the start of the second session, though it is Shane Dowrich who is begin to attack the Indian bowlers now. He gets to his third Test half-century with a single in his 78th delivery in the 60th over. And that’s the third fifty in this innings. Meanwhile, the 99-run stand between these two is the highest partnership for any wicket by the hosts in this series so far.
After 54 overs,West Indies 215/5 ( Roston Chase 70 , Shane Dowrich (W) 33)
End of a fantastic session for the West Indians, as the middle-order trio of Blackwood, Chase and Dowrich have responded brilliantly to put the West Indians on the path towards avoiding an innings defeat. The hosts have put on 167 runs for the loss of just one wicket in this extended session on a sunny morning, and Chase looks set to get his hundred! Let’s wait and see if the Indians respond strongly after lunch.
After 54 overs,West Indies 215/5 ( Roston Chase 70 , Shane Dowrich (W) 33)
End of a fantastic session for the West Indians, as the middle-order trio of Blackwood, Chase and Dowrich have responded brilliantly to put the West Indians on the path towards avoiding an innings defeat. The hosts have put on 167 runs for the loss of just one wicket in this extended session on a sunny morning, and Chase looks set to get his hundred! Let’s wait and see if the Indians respond strongly after lunch.
After 50 overs,West Indies 204/5 ( Roston Chase 65 , Shane Dowrich (W) 27)
Chase and Dowrich have formed yet another strong partnership to thwart the Indians after the departure of Blackwood, with the stand worth 63 at the end of the 50th over as the West Indians cross the 200-run mark after the loss of five wickets.
After 41 overs,West Indies 177/5 ( Roston Chase 51 , Shane Dowrich (W) 14)
FOUR! Chase despatches a low full-toss from Mishra through the midwicket to bring up his maiden fifty in international cricket, which complements very well with his five-wicket haul from the Indian innings in what has been a brilliant all-round show so far. Chase has pretty much assured his spot in the Test side by now.
After 35 overs,West Indies 147/5 ( Roston Chase 30 , Shane Dowrich (W) 6)
Blackwood’s dismissal certainly is a massive blow to the hosts as they have lost out on a batsman who was getting runs along at a pace quicker than usual, and was in good form. With him back in the pavilion, India get a fresh surge of energy, and skipper Kohli will look to go for the kill now. Meanwhile, it is wicketkeeper-batsman Dowrich who walks out to at now.
Blackwood however, did entertain while he was at the crease.
Strike rates of batsmen having 50+ in both inn. of a Test:
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) August 3, 2016
121.96 Azharuddin
108.91 Sehwag
107.75 BLACKWOOD*
105.91 Dilshan#WIvIND
Bunny alert?
Ashwin has now dismissed Blackwood three out of four times in this series #WIvIND
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) August 3, 2016
OUT! And it takes some fantastic catching at forward short-leg by Cheteshwar Pujara to end Blackwood’s entertaining fightback for 63, as Ashwin strikes for India! Blackwood lunges forward in an attempt to block a length delivery along leg, and the ball turns to get an inside-edge off Blackwood’s bat. WI 141/5
Jermaine Blackwood c Cheteshwar Pujara b Ravichandran Ashwin 63 (54)
After 30 overs,West Indies 127/4 ( Jermaine Blackwood 50 , Roston Chase 29)
Virat Kohli introduces Ravi Ashwin, currently ranked numero uno in the world in the format, in the 28th over with the hope of getting a breakthrough. There is a chance in the second-last ball of the over, when Blackwood comes down the track and hammers the ball down the ground, with the ball grazing past Ashwin’s fingers. The off-spinners gets struck for a six by the same batsman at the start of his next over, before bringing up his eighth half-century (and his 2nd consecutive) with a single in that over.
After 25 overs, West Indies 100/4 (Blackwood 31, Chase 21); trail by 204 runs
Tropical Storm ‘Earl’ may not be an immediate threat to Kingston as of now, but it still is raining at the Sabina Park. Only it’s boundaries, mainly off Blackwood’s bat this time. Blackwood, who had got a pair in the first Test, brings up the fifty stand with Chase for the fifth wicket, as well as the 100 for West Indies with a lofted drive over extra-cover in the 25th over. Boy has this been some fight-back from the hosts!
A change of end for Shami and Ashwin from the Micheal Holding End (for optimum drift), please, Mr Kohli. #cricket #WIvIND
— Anand Vasu (@anandvasu) August 3, 2016
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