Test cricket's world no. 1 bowler Ravichandran Ashwin proved his rank with an astonishing delivery that sent the in-form West Indies skipper Kraigg Braithwaite back to the pavilion in the second Test in the Port of Spain on Sunday (July 23) morning.
The opener was on 75 off 235 when Ashwin bowled the 'ball of the series' to get his wicket. Brathwaite frustrated the Indian attack before the world's No. 1 Test bowler got his wicket with a magical moment that brought the smiles back in the Indian camp. Toiling for close to 73 overs on a track which at best can be called 'dead'', Ashwin (33-10-61-1) bowled a delivery that had flight and required inward drift which was good enough to entice Brathwaite to plonk his front foot for his umpteenth defensive prod.
But to his horror, the ball turned sharply, an off-spinner's dream delivery that went between bat and pad to hit the stumps. A compact defensive player, Brathwaite's only fault was pushing his bat slightly ahead of his pad instead of keeping it close. It allowed the ball to exploit the gap to the fullest.
At the end of the day's play, only 67 overs were bowled as it looks like the West Indies batters are looking for a draw. They managed to add just 143 runs to their score on Day 3, and are still 209 runs behind India's first-innings score of 438.
Ashwin was leading the charge for India's bowlers but he was ably helped by pacer Mohammed Siraj, who made the old ball talk playing against a defensive West Indies. He got the wicket of the dangerous Joshua Da Silva with a perfect in-cutter.
Another boss moment for India was the wicket of Jermaine Blackwood, accosted by Ravindra Jadeja. He had a gun slip fielder in Ajinkya Rahane, who held onto a stunner diving to his left to send back Jermaine Blackwood as he tried to jab at a delivery that took the outside edge of his blade.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK
IND vs WI: West Indies hold their ground against India, score 229 and lose five wickets in response to visitors' 438
'She should have spoken with a bit of manners': Bangladesh skipper Nigar Sultana lashes out at Harmanpreet Kaur for calling umpiring 'pathetic'
