Spin bowling erodes Windies momentum, again
MUMBAI, India (CMC) — Spin bowling sparked another typical West Indies batting collapse as India took control on day one of the second test at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday.
West Indies crumbled for 182 before tea, eroded by left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha, and India in reply reached 157 for two at the close, well within sight of first innings lead.
Retiring batting great Sachin Tendulkar, playing his 200th and final Test, is not out on 38 and rookie Cheteshwar Pujara not out on 34.
Shane Shillingford continues to be the Windies’ most effective bowler on this trip, grabbing 2-46 from 12 overs.
The visitors lost their last seven wickets for 42 runs in the space of 89 deliveries between lunch and tea.
Kieran Powell hit the top score of 48 and all the West Indies’ top seven batsmen reached double figures, but none carried on.
West Indies hopes for a strong start had taken a dent, when they reached 93 for two at lunch, after Chris Gayle and Darren Bravo fell.
Gayle, playing his 99th Test, was caught at gully for 11 in the first half-hour after the Windies were sent in to bat on an unusually helpful, grassy pitch.