Vihari, Bumrah help India route West Indies 2-0

The Indian team completed a 2-0 whitewash on Day 4 of the second Test at Jamaica as they defeated the hosts by a spectacular 257 run margin, bringing on the curtains to their Caribbean tour.

India came into the game with an unchanged side as West Indies made three changes with Rahkeem Cornwall handed over his Test debut. Jahmar Hamilton also made his debut.

Captain Jason Holder continued the tradition of winning the toss and elected to bowl like in Antigua.

India found themselves in a spot of bother following the early dismissals of KL Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara. However, Mayank Agarwal crafted a splendid fifty batting alongside the skipper who put up 76, falling short of yet another century.

Hanuma Vihari who showed a lot of resilience in the first Test went on to smash his maiden Test hundred as he and Ishant Sharma added 112 runs for the eighth wicket. The tall pacer recorded his first fifty in 92 Tests.

The visitors ended up with 416 runs on the board. Skipper Holder went on to pick a five-wicket haul.

After accounting for John Campbell, Jasprit Bumrah went berserk in the ninth over as he became the third Indian to claim a red-ball hat-trick. Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks and Roston Chase, all of them breached in a space of three balls.

Bumrah wasn’t sure of Roston Chase’s dismissal but Virat Kohli decided to review an lbw call which eventually fell in his favour.

Bumrah wasn’t done yet as he came back to get the better of Kraigg Brathwaite too and completed his five-wicket haul. West Indies had just 22 runs on the board as Bumrah created havoc in the middle.

West Indies were bundled for 117 owing to Shimron Hetmyer’s 34 and some small contributions from the lower order. Bumrah finished with figures of 6/27, his best in Tests.

India decided to not enforce the follow on as they walked out to bat again. KL Rahul continued his dry spell with the bat while Virat Kohli was dismissed for a rare golden duck.

Kemar Roach accounted for the top three wickets as India were reduced to 36/3 and further 57/4 after Pujara got out. Both Ajinkya Rahane and Vihari scored fifties before India decided to declare on 168/4.

Set a target of 468, the home side was in early trouble. Ishant Sharma struck in his second over as Brathwaite continued to disappoint. Campbell was also out early.

Jermaine Blackwood came in as a concussion substitute for Darren Bravo who complained of uneasiness after he was struck on his helmet earlier.

Shamarh Brooks tried to revive the innings as he scored a fifty before getting run out. Throughout the course of their innings, the Caribbean batsmen kept losing the plot. The lower order was resilient and delayed India’s victory as West Indies went on to cross the 200-run mark. They were eventually bowled for 210 when Jadeja finally cleaned up Jason Holder for 39.

Mohammed Shami and Ravindra Jadeja got three wickets each as India added another 60 points to their tally in the World Test Championship.