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Rediff.com  » Cricket » PHOTOS: Kohli, Agarwal hit 50s to boost India on Day 1

PHOTOS: Kohli, Agarwal hit 50s to boost India on Day 1

Last updated on: August 31, 2019 07:15 IST
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Images from Day 1 of the second Test between India and the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica.

IMAGE: Mayank Agarwal, left, chats with India captain Virat Kohli during Day 1 of the second Test against the West Indies, in Kingston, Jamaica, on Friday. Photograph: BCCI

Virat Kohli and Mayank Agarwal hit half-centuries to help India post 264 for five at close on Day 1 of the second Test against the West Indies, in Jamaica, on Friday.

 

Captain Kohli top-scored with a brisk 76 from 163 balls, while Agarwal made 55 from 127, the duo helping India get back on track after a couple of early wickets. They added 69 runs for the third wicket after the visitors were put in to bat.

West Indies captain Jason Holder was instrumental in keeping India in check. He took three wickets for 39 runs in 20 overs, while Rakheem Cornwall and Kemar Roach claimed one each.

Virat Kohli

IMAGE: Virat Kohli celebrates after completing his fifty. Photograph: BCCI

At stumps on the opening day, Hanuma Vihari was unbeaten after a brisk 42, while Rishabh Pant was on 27 from 64 balls, the two putting on 62 for the sixth wicket.

Put in to bat, India lost KL Rahul early, caught behind for 13 off Holder, who also accounted for his opening partner Agarwal, while Cheteshwar Pujara became debutant Cornwalla's first victim in Test cricket.

Ajinkya Rahane failed to carry on his good form as he was caught behind off Kemar Roach for 24.

IMAGE: Jason Holder celebrates after taking the wicket of Mayank Agarwal. Photograph: BCCI

It was opener Agarwal who laid the foundation of the Indian rebuilding with a solid batting display. Playing in his fourth Test, the 28-year-old got to his fifty by edging a Kemar Roach delivery to the boundary.

He fell inside the first hour of the post-lunch session after scoring his third half-century. He perished for 55, trying to cut Holder but was done in by some extra bounce and caught at first slip.

Kohli took time to settle down on a tricky pitch; he took 16 balls to open his account during the morning session. He was tested by the tight bowling from the West Indians, especially off-spinner Cornwall.

He gained in confidence with time spent at the crease and hit two exquisite cover drives towards the end of the second session.

Resuming on 31 after the lunch break, the India captain completed his 22nd half-century with a single in the 55th over, bowled by Shannon Gabriel.

Mayank Agarwal

IMAGE: India opener Mayank Agarwal bats on Day 1. Photograph: BCCI

Earlier, India laboured their way to 72 for 2 under testing conditions after Rahul and Pujara were dismissed cheaply in the opening session.

Rahul and Pujara were out for 13 and 6 respectively after India were put into bat on a Sabina Park pitch that had some grass on it.

Jason Holder celebrates after dismissing K L Rahul.

IMAGE: Jason Holder celebrates picking the wicket of K L Rahul. Photograph: BCCI

After West Indies captain Holder opted to field, Rahul and Agarwal negotiated the first half an hour without taking any risk on a tricky pitch.

Opening bowlers Roach and Gabriel, however, could not get much movement from the pitch.

Holder introduced himself in the seventh over and immediately got the breakthrough by having the wicket of Rahul to break the 32-run opening stand.

It was a peach of a delivery, which jagged away from middle stump and Rahul edged it to Rakheem Cornwall at first slip for a comfortable catch.

Rahul hit two fours in his 26-ball innings.

Rakheem Cornwall

IMAGE: West Indies’ 26-year-old off-spinner Rakheem Cornwall celebrates after dismissing Cheteshwar Pujara. Photograph: BCCI

Holder was getting the bounce and movement and debutant Cornwall made the Indians toil for runs with his tight off-spin bowling.

India were 36 for 1 in 13 overs at the drinks break.

Pujara, who came after Rahul's departure in the seventh over, struggled again, as he took 15 deliveries to open his account, and was finally out for 6, which came from 25 balls.

Virat Kohli

IMAGE: Virat Kohli nudges one past West Indies wicketkeeper Jahmar Hamilton. Photograph: BCCI

The bounce extracted by 26-year-old off-spinner Cornwall, who stands at 6 feet and 5 inches and weighs more than 140 kg, brought about Pujara's downfall as he hit straight to the hands of Shamarh Brooks.

India were 46 for 2 in the 17th over at the fall of Pujara but Kohli and Agarwal ensured that the visiting side did not lose any further wicket. The duo added 26 runs in 13.1 overs for the unbroken third wicket.

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