West Indies vs India 2016, Second Test, Day 1 report: Ashwin, Rahul show puts India on top

Ravichandran Ashwin’s love affair with West Indies continued he pocketed another five-wicket haul while KL Rahul scored an unbeaten half-century as India took firm control on the first day of the second Test in the Jamaican capital of Kingston on Saturday.
Ashwin grabbed 5 for 52 in 16 overs on the way to his 18th five-wicket haul in Test cricket as West Indies folded for 196. The Tamil Nadu offie took the centre-stage after Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami made early inroads, as opposition captain Jason Holder had opted to bat first on a good track.

But the decision to bat first looked baffling as the West Indian batsmen displayed very ordinary effort with the bat. It was only Jermaine Blackwood, who showed some counter-attacking instincts with a run-a-ball 62 that had seven fours and four sixes. Blackwood, along with Marlon Samuels added 81 runs for the fourth wicket after the hosts were in deep trouble at 7 for 3 with Ishant and Shami cleaning off the top order.
However, at the stroke of lunch, after Blackwood was undone by Ashwin, the floodgates literally opened and West Indies capitulated from there on. The ceremony began when Samuels started to attack, was foxed by Ashwin's flight, giving a simple catch to Rahul short-leg.

Six overs later, Shane Dowrich was caught-behind; the wicket-keeper batsman was in double mind whether to leave or play at the ball, and eventually ended up doing the latter. At the other end, Shami got rid of Roston Chase. Ashwin removed Devendra Bishoo, who was pardoned twice by the umpire off Shami.
Ashwin triggered celebrations on the field and off it with his second successive five-wicket haul in the series two overs later then, as Jason Holder was out caught bat-pad at forward short leg. The visitors, nevertheless, endured a frustrating period as Miguel Cummins and Shanon Gabriel used their long handle to good effect to add 38 runs for the last wicket, before Amit Mishra wrapped up things.
In reply, KL Rahul, coming in place of an injured Murali Vijay made full use of the opportunity as he not only looked solid but also scored runs at a quick rate. His innings consisted 10 boundaries as he first added 87 runs for the first wicket with Shikhar Dhawan, and then slowly built the score with Cheteshwar Pujara to put India on a dominant position at end of Day 1.