After winning the toss, West Indies captain Jason Holder chose to field first at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Thursday.
Ajinkya Rahane's fifty takes India to 203/6 on Day 1 of 1st Test against West Indies. (Photo: Twitter/@ICC)
Riding on a half-century from vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, India scored 203 for 6 before rain marred the play on Day 1.
After winning the toss, West Indies captain Jason Holder chose to field first at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Thursday.
With pacers Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel taking quick early wickets, including those of Cheteshwar Pujara (2) and captain Virat Kohli (9), India were rescued from a precarious situation by Rahane’s 81 off 163 balls and his partnerships with KL Rahul and Hanuma Vihari. As rains called to an early end to the first day, India were 203/6.
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Mayank Agarwal (5) was Roach’s first victim as he edged behind in the fifth over of the day. The umpire didn’t raise his finger but Jason Holder went for the review. Replays showed clear contact between bat and ball with the pad nowhere in the picture and Richard Kettleborough had to change his decision.
In the same over, Roach managed to get an edge off Pujara, who was India’s highest scorer in India’s series win in Australia earlier in the year. Three overs later, Kohli tried to cut Gabriel over point but ended up looping the ball towards gully. The fielder dove well to take the catch and top-ranked Test batsman in the world walked back with just nine runs to his name.
Rahane and Rahul then erected the Indian innings with a partnership of 68 runs. Rahul was on 44 when he edged Roston Chase behind and had to walk. But Rahane found an able partner in Hanuma Vihari and put up 82 runs, before Roach took Chase.
However, Rahane could not see off the day as he fell to Gabriel. At the end of the day, Rishabh Pant (20*) and Ravindra Jadeja (3*) were in the middle for India.
Brief scores: India 203 for 6 (Rahane 81, Rahul 44, Roach 3/34) vs West Indies.
(With inputs from IANS)
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