Kohli double leaves WI long way to safety

West Indies 31 for 1 (Shami 1-6) trail India 566 for 8 decl. (Kohli 200, Ashwin 113, Dhawan 84, Mishra 53) by 535 runsScorecard and ball-by-ball details

Virat Kohli continued his efficient and energetic accumulation of runs to bring up his maiden first-class double-hundred, setting up India’s declaration on 566, their joint fourth-highest score against West Indies. Promoted to No. 6, R Ashwin enjoyed some luck in the first hour of the day before strolling to his third hundred against West Indies, taking his average against them to 64.67. Given 16 overs, the Indian bowlers tried desperately for a breakthrough, and succeeded less than 10 minutes before the end of play on the second day.

That India could entertain a declaration with more than an hour to stumps was down to Kohli’s scoring rate. He went at 4.2 an over; Amit Mishra and the tail began to swing their bats pushing for declaration, the rest of the side managed 282 runs in over 101.5 overs. Kohli’s intent – helped no doubt by a flat pitch and tiring bowlers – foiled West Indies’ plan pretty much from ball one: bowl defensively and ensure your stacked-up batting line-up has less time to survive. Apart from Shannon Gabriel, no bowler – there was only one other specialist in the side – actively looked for wickets and instead relied on frustrating batsmen. However, Kohli, India’s first captain to score an away double, took risks and made the bowlers bowl to him because he was driving the wide ones too.

Gabriel, though, should have had his second wicket early on the second day. West Indies’ wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich had waited for 423 overs over three Tests for his first opportunity at a dismissal. When Gabriel produced the outside edge from Ashwin, …

continue reading in source www.espncricinfo.com