India's frontline bowler Mohammed Siraj was at his best on the field during the first Test of the two-Test match series against West Indies in Roseau, Dominica on July 12. He took a brilliant one-handed catch off Ravindra Jadeja's bowling to send Jermaine Blackwood back to the pavilion before the Lunch break, with the batter scoring just 14 off 34 balls.
The pacer was standing at mid-off and dived in the air to the left-hand side to take a stunner with his right hand. He also seemingly injured his elbow after completing the catch but was fine enough to continue afterwards.
See the video here:
Meanwhile, the Indian spinner dominated Day 1 till lunch as Ravichandran Ashwin removed both openers, before Ravindra Jadeja also got one more, courtesy of Siraj's brilliant fielding, with the West Indies reeling at 68 for 4 at lunch. The other wicket was taken by Shardul Thakur.
At the break, debutant Alick Athanaze (13 batting) was at the crease with the West Indies managing to hit only 6 fours in 28 overs during the first session.
Opting to bat first, West Indies openers Tagenarine Chanderpaul (12) and Kraigg Brathwaite (20) felt the wrath of the likes of Siraj (0/17 in 8 overs) and Jaydev Unadkat (0/7 in 5 overs). The rewards of their pressure was reaped by Ashwin with his 2/25 in 10 overs. as he made life uncomfortable for the two openers.
West Indies skipper Brathwaite, easily the best Test batter in the side over the last five years, was increasingly getting frustrated as Ashwin bowled slightly quicker at times to him. He did try to hit out of trouble with a slog-swept boundary but the canny operator fired one across the line, inducing Brathwaite to go for a mindless bottom-handed slog over mid-on. However, the mistimed slog only became the easiest skiers for skipper Rohit Sharma stationed at cover.
Left-handed Raymon Reifer (2 off 18 balls) never looked in control as Siraj softened him up with some short balls. So when Shardul, who is a notch slower came into the attack, he wanted to come on front foot and get his cover drive going. Shardul quickly slipped one across the stumps and the thick outside edge was snapped by a diving Ishant Kishan behind the stumps.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
India's predicted playing XI for 1st Test vs West Indies: Rohit, Yashasvi to open, Gill at No.3, coin flip between Bharat, Kishan
WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh 'stalked, molested' and 'liable to be prosecuted and punished': Delhi Police Chargesheet
