NewsKarnataka-Kolkata
Kolkata:Debutant Mohammed Shami produced a devastating spell of reverse swing to return with a dream match haul of nine wickets as India spanked West Indies by an innings and 51 runs in the first cricket Test and take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series in Kolkata on Friday.
Ravichandran Ashwin also made it a memorable day by cracking his second Test century and then chipped in with three wickets as the hosts bundled out the visitors for a paltry 168 in the second innings to clinch the match with two days to spare.
Rohit Sharma, too, made his Test debut special, cracking a magnificent 177 in the first of the two-match series which is also retiring legend Sachin Tendulkar’s last outing in international cricket.
Apart from Sharma, the star of the match was undoubtedly Shami who claimed 5/47 in the second innings and returned impressive match figures of 9 for 118 at the Eden Gardens.
Shamis effort is the second best by an Indian on debut after Narendra Hirwanis 16/136 against the same opponents in Chennai way back in 1988.
Starting their second innings with a huge deficit, West Indies were bundled out for just 168, with off-spinner Ashwin (3/46) providing Shami the support at the other end.
Making his debut at his home ground, Bengal pacer Shami, who took 4/71 in the first innings, utilised the conditions to maximum effect as he rocked the West Indies batting line-up with his lethal reverse swinging deliveries that skidded in sharply.
It was Indias fifth Test victory in a row after their 4-0 rout of Australia as the victory also snapped the West Indies six-match winning streak.
The two teams will now travel to Mumbai for the final Test and Tendulkars last in international cricket.
Besides being Indias best, the duos massive stand is the third highest overall for the seventh wicket.
Brief Scores:
West Indies: 234 and 168 in 54.1 overs. (Darren Bravo 37, Kieran Powell 36; Mohammed Shami 5/47, R Aswhin 3/46).
India 1st innings: 453 all out in 129.4 overs (Rohit Sharma 177, Ravichandran Ashwin 124; Shane Shillingford 6/167).
