Kohli Century Puts India in Charge

Russia waits on Rio call asIOC reports test failures SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2016 JULY SATURDAY, SportsSports 44 ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA: India’s cricketer Virat Kohli celebrates 100 runs during day one of the cricket Test match between West Indies and India July 21, 2016 at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. — AFP Kohli century puts India in charge Indian captain leads way with authoritative innings NORTH SOUND, Antigua and Barbuda: Virat Kohli stroked a com- ever-increasing stature as a batsman of the highest class. In was left to Holder, fellow medium-pacer Carlos Brathwaite and manding 12th Test century to put India in control at 302 for four stark contrast, the usually destructive Dhawan was content to Chase to do the bulk of the early work in support of Gabriel when stumps were drawn on the opening day of the first Test play the supporting role. before Bishoo got into his work after lunch. against the West Indies on Thursday. Having chosen to bat first on Nevertheless, those bowling resources were made to winning the toss, the Indian captain led the way with a thoroughly Attacking instincts appear decidedly inadequate on a placid pitch and against authoritative innings of 143 not out, decorated with 16 fours that Famed for his adventurous attacking instincts in all forms of batsmen prepared to keep the scoreboard ticking over. Early has so far occupied just over four hours off 197 deliveries. the game, the left-handed opening batsman displayed in his innings, Kohli passed 3,000 career Test runs and later on He put on 105 for the third wicket with Shikhar Dhawan, admirable restraint in the early exchanges against bowling that reached 1,000 as Test captain. But the most important figures the opening batsman missing out on a three-figure innings of lacked any real pace and potency, with the notable exception were the partnerships built around his excellent innings. His his own when he fell lbw for 84 sweeping at Devendra Bishoo of Shannon Gabriel, who caused alarms for the Indian opening century stand with Dhawan was followed by a further 60 put on the stroke of the tea interval. Bishoo’s mixture of leg-breaks pair with his raw pace. “I enjoyed my knock. I just had to take together with Rahane followed by a fifth-wicket stand so far and googlies were the greatest threat to the Indians through- the punches (early on) and I was happy I had the persistence to worth 66 with Ravichandran Ashwin. out a long, tiring day for the home side at the Sir Vivian keep going,” said Dhawan. “It’s not every time I’ll keep getting With two Test centuries against the West Indies on the Richards Stadium although his three wickets were more the boundaries from the start. I had to grind it out.” Indian sub-continent, the lower-order player will resume on result of poor shot-selection by Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara Gabriel removed Murali Vijay for just seven after half-an- the second morning unbeaten on 22 alongside Kohli. While and Ajinkya Rahane. He ended the day with figures of three hour’s play when the right-hander fended at a lifting delivery the West Indies have packed their side with batting, India opt- for 108 off 27 overs. for Kraigg Brathwaite to take the catch at the second attempt ed for a bowling attack comprising three pacers and two spin- Surprisingly he was not called upon by his captain, Jason at second slip. Pujara looked untroubled on joining Dhawan at ners, omitting Ravindra Jadeja in preference for Amit Mishra to Holder, in the first period of play, when even debutant bats- the crease with the pair putting on 60 before the middle-order work in tandem with Ashwin as specialist slow bowlers. West man and part-time off-spinner Roston Chase delivered eight player’s error of judgement at the start of the afternoon ses- Indies have not defeated India in Test cricket for 14 years since overs. However his dismissal of Pujara via a horribly miscued sion. Having opted to go into the match without uncapped the end of the 2002 series in the Caribbean and are the decid- pull in the first over after lunch ushered in Kohli who proceed- fast-medium bowler Miguel Cummins, the only other pace ed underdogs for the first meeting with these opponents on ed to transform the rest of the day into a testament to his threat available in the West Indies pre-match squad of 13, it home soil for five years. — AFP .

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