AP, St. John’s :
West Indies crumbled to an innings defeat against India on the fourth day of the first test on Sunday after Ravichandran Ashwin claimed seven wickets for 83 runs with some inspired off-spin.
Having started the day on 21-1, following on and still trailing India by 302 runs, West Indies were under immense pressure from the start. After losing Darren Bravo in the first over of the day, the tone was set for their second innings, and the hosts never really recovered.
They managed 231 all out, losing by an innings and 92 runs, after a succession of ill-judged defensive strokes on a turning pitch saw off the middle order, who either pushed down the wrong line to the spinners or offered easy nicks to one of a tight cordon of close fielders.
Marlon Samuels hit a pacey 50 almost entirely in boundaries but fell victim to Ashwin’s guile as the all-rounder followed up a succession of big turners with one that drifted away from Samuels’ solid defensive stride to clip the off stump.
Carlos Brathwaite and Devendra Bishoo mounted an entertaining rearguard action and gave a little respectability to the hosts through their 95-run ninth-wicket partnership.
But the gulf in class between the two sides was all too evident, and Shannon Gabriel was the last man out, bowled by Ashwin.
Virat Kohli’s side showed great professionalism in all departments, with the India skipper recording his maiden double century and all-rounder Ashwin supporting with 113. It was the second time Ashwin has hit a century and taken five wickets in an innings in the same match.
West Indies will look to improve on their disappointing performance in the second test which starts July 30 in Jamaica.
