Pant, Rahane give India control on day two

VIEW MATCH CENTRE

By the time stumps were drawn, India were 308/4, a deficit of just 3, with Rahane (75* off 174) and Pant (85* off 120) rescuing the home side from a seemingly precarious 162/4 on the second day at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

The Windies had their moments, particularly in the second session when they picked up three wickets and built up good pressure.

However, Rahane, who has battled ordinary form in international cricket for a while, and Pant, the young dasher who has been on the opposite end of the form spectrum, found good support in each other, and India ended the day on top and in control.

The day began with Roston Chase completing the two runs he required to bring up his fourth Test century, even as Umesh Yadav ran through the tail to finish with 6/88 – only his second five-wicket haul in Tests. The Windies were bowled out for 311, an addition of just 16 runs to their overnight total.

Then, the 18-year-old Shaw once again drew gasps. The youngster has taken to Test cricket with such ease, he must be wondering what all the fuss is about. He scored at a strike-rate of well over 100, and it was telling of just how dominant and aggressive he was that in his 61-run opening partnership with KL Rahul, the more senior partner, managed just 4.

He swept, drilled, cut and drove, and soon brought up his half-century before lunch – off just 39 balls – raising hopes of a second Test century in as many innings, but drove Jomel Warrican straight to cover when he was on a 53-ball 70. And when Cheteshwar Pujara fell for 10 in the very next over, India were 102/3.

Virat Kohli and Rahane then dug in deep and soaked up the pressure – by this point, Devendra Bishoo and Warrican had found good rhythm, and the boundaries dried up. India went 72 deliveries without finding the fence, before Kohli finally managed to get one past some excellent fielding.

Kohli found the fence a few more times thereafter, but Jason Holder, the Windies captain, brought himself back on and had Kohli trapped in front for a 78-ball 45. India were 162/4, and the Windies had fought their way back into the game.

They couldn’t capitalise, though. Pant is the sort of player to go for his shots. He rode his luck, but found the boundary repeatedly, much to the frustration of the visitors. Soon, the Windies were unable to sustain the pressure, and when Rahane felt confident enough to shift gears as well, they were chasing leather all over the park.

Both players soon brought up their half-centuries off consecutive deliveries. Pant kept going, lifting Warrican for back-to-back sixes at one point. For a while it seemed a real possibility that he would reach three figures before the end of play.

However, as the end of the day approached, both players opted to cut down on the expansive shots, and put a price on their wickets. They’ll now look to pile on the runs on the third morning.