By: Tarish Bhatt
The Indian bowlers were finally made to work hard, and given a taste of what are getting in the upcoming Test series. Only five wickets fell in the day, and the Indians were made to work hard in all three sessions.
On a slow Warner Park pitch, Jermaine Blackwood Vishaul Singh and Montcin Hodge played patient knocks to hold the Indian team for a draw in the second practice match. Blackwood was particularly impressive, and struck a fifty. Hodge and Singh, too, played their parts.
“In both the (warm-up) games, pitches in St. Kitts were slow,” pacer Shardul Thakur said after the game. “We are expecting slower wickets in the Test matches.”
“If there is a slow wicket the next time we play, it won’t surprise us,” he added. “We are ready for it. Doesn’t matter what the pitch is – slow or fast. Effort matters. To put in that effort is my job.”
Ravichandran Ashwin was the most impressive bowler in the second innings. He finished with three wickets, adding a couple to his overnight tally of one. Mohammed Shami and Ravindra Jadeja chipped-in with one apiece. Thakur and leggie Amit Mishra went wicketless in the second innings. Stuart Binny, too, also failed to make any impact.
Earlier, the Indians have racked up 364 in the first innings. KL Rahul, captain Virat Kohli had scored fifties, while Ajinkya Rahane and Wriddhiman Saha made useful contributions.
India are now gearing up for the opening Test against West Indies, starting July 21, at Antigua’s Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. The visitors are heading as favorites in the opening match. The Kohli’s men are also favorites to win the four-match Test series too.
