Chase fifty fuels Windies fight after Kuldeep strikes

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Reuters
Published : 16:07, Oct 12, 2018 | Updated : 16:10, Oct 12, 2018

Roston Chase. PHOTO: WICB Media PhotoRoston Chase notched up his second fifty of the series but West Indies lost three more wickets in the second session to reach 197 for six at tea on the opening day of the second and final test against India on Friday.

Chase was unbeaten on 50 with skipper Jason Holder on 10 at the other end with the tourists failing to capitalise on a good batting track after electing to bat.

Debutant paceman Shardul Thakur hobbled off the ground with a groin injury after sending down only 10 deliveries but spinner Kuldeep Yadav (3-50) and paceman Umesh Yadav (2-60) ensured the hosts did not suffer.

The onus was on Kraigg Brathwaite and Kieran Powell to give the tourists a strong start after Holder won the toss and unsurprisingly elected to bat on a track that looked full of runs.

With Umesh occasionally straying down the leg side and a couple of edges by Powell running to the fence, West Indies found little to complain about in the first five overs.

Umesh jolted West Indies in the sixth over when Powell, who made 22, was adjudged leg before but the batsman successfully reviewed the decision, with replays suggesting an inside edge.

It was a combination of Powell's recklessness and Ravichandran Ashwin's guile which led to the first dismissal.

The opener stepped out against the off-spinner who quickly shortened his length and pitched it wide, prompting an uppish drive straight to Ravindra Jadeja at cover.

Kuldeep dismissed Brathwaite for 14, trapping him lbw with a delivery that beat the bat and hit the opener on his back leg.

Shai Hope hit five boundaries in his 36 but his dismissal off the final delivery before the lunch break tilted the session in India's favour.

Umesh generated movement off the seam to dismiss Hope leg before after a similar appeal against the batsman had been turned down in his previous over.

Like in their comprehensive defeat in the series opener in Rajkot, West Indies batsmen were confounded by Kuldeep's left-arm wrist-spin and both Shimran Hetmyer and Sunil Ambris fell to googlies.

India made good use of the review system to send back Shane Dowrich for 30 after Umesh's lbw appeal was initially turned down.

The tourists made two changes with Holder returning from injury to replace Keemo Paul and spinner Jomel Warrican substituting Sherman Lewis.

India rested Mohammed Shami to blood Thakur who has gone for scans and the report would determine his further participation in the match.

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