Quick strikes dent West Indies before storm
Kingston, Jamaica, by Vishaal Loganathan •
Last updated on Wednesday, 03 August, 2016, 02:28 AM
Despite several rain breaks, India picked up four wickets in the first session © AFP
Only 15.5 overs were bowled during the morning session that lasted three and a half hours, but there was still enough time to find heroes in Jamaica. Mohammad Shami struck twice late in the session to leave the home side reeling, while Ishant Sharma and Amit Mishra took one wicket each. But the true heroes were the groundsmen.
Tropical wave Earl had finally arrived at Jamaica, and true to its name, wave after wave of rain hit Sabina Park on Tuesday (August 2). The were enough stoppages in the session's play to warrant the West Indies media manager to sit back in the press box and play Bob Marley songs aloud. 'Every little thing is gonna be alright,' he promised. We hoped.
But the heroes, were the ground staff. They were called into action multiple times in the morning and just after noon. They had to battle really strong winds, and sudden bursts of sharp rain to ensure they kept the pitch covered and dry enough to straight away resume play when rain stopped.
When the rain relented, which happened almost as quickly as it happened, they were quick to pull off the covers, making sure none of the water was spilled onto the pitch or the ground, and allow the players to take the field, again.
But again and again, rain played the fool. The moment players were on the field, rain made its appearance felt. And soon after they left, it disappeared.
In whatever little cricket was possible, India moved closer to victory as Ishant Sharma struck in the third over of the innings to send back the woefully out of form Rajendra Chandrika for 1. Mohammad Shami pinged Darren Bravo on the wrist with a vicious bouncer, leaving the left-hander in pain.
Kraigg Brathwaite survived when a couple of edges didn't carry and instead found the fence behind the wicketkeeper or the slip fielders.
But you can survive on luck for only that long before it runs out. And it ran out when Amit Mishra was brought on to bowl in the 13th over. The right-hander miscued a pull off a short delivery and offered KL Rahul a regulation catch.
Marlon Samuels walked out to play what could be his final Test innings in Jamaica, and his knock lasted just five deliveries, as Mohammad Shami bowled the right-hander with a peach of a delivery, leaving the batsman a touch to disturb the off-stump.
Three became four in Shami's next over. He had consistently troubled Darren Bravo with the short delivery, and it proved to be the batsmen's demise as he gloved a catch to Rahul for 20.
West Indies had slumped to a sorry state at 48 for 4 at Lunch, staring at another humongous innings defeat.
Rain however arrived again after Lunch and no further play was possible.
India will hope that the weather stays good tomorrow and give them a good chance of completing the victory.
© Cricbuzz
