Ashwin 12-fer powers India to dominant win

India completed their Dominica domination with a resounding three-day victory as they beat the West Indies by an innings and 141 runs in the first Test at Windsor Park. After establishing a sizeable first-innings lead of 271, the visitors skittled the West Indies for 130 to finish the game on the third evening. Ravichandran Ashwin starred with the ball once again, taking seven wickets in the second essay to finish with figures of 12/131 in the match, his best figures in an overseas Test.

Having declared on 421 for 5, India wrapped up the hosts’ second innings within 50.3 overs to kickstart the new ICC WTC cycle with a victory. Ravindra Jadeja drew first blood for the Men in Blue, rapping Tagenarine Chanderpaul on the pads before Ravichandran Ashwin added another before Tea, coming from around the wicket to edge Kraigg Brathwaite to first slip.

The wickets continued to tumble after the break as Ashwin trapped Jermaine Blackwood in front of his stumps and Jadeja accounted for Raymond Reifer, leaving the hosts reeling at 32 for 4. Joshua de Silva and Alick Athanaze staged a brief recovery, threatening to take the game to a fourth day. However, their resistance lasted just 26 runs as Mohammed Siraj dismissed de Silva, pinning the wicketkeeper on his pads.

Alick Athanaze top scored for the hosts again in the second innings, but departed on 28 to Ravichandran Ashwin, with Yashasvi Jaiswal taking a smart catch at short leg and making amends for dropping the left-hander earlier in the day. The West Indies slumped to 78 for 6 with the debutant’s departure and continued to slide as Alzarri Joseph picked out Shubman Gill in the deep while looking to clear the ropes.

Ashwin added another to complete his eighth career ten-wicket haul, getting Rakheem Cornwall to edge one to short leg with a ripping off-break. Three balls later, the champion off-spinner knocked over Kemar Roach’s stumps before finishing off the game with the wicket of Jomel Warrican, bowling the West Indies out for 130.

Earlier in the day, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli brought up their century stand after resuming India’s innings on 312 for 2. Jaiswal became just the third Indian to score a 150 on debut before eventually departing on 171, edging behind to Alzarri Joseph to end his 387-ball vigil. India piled on the misery for the West Indian bowlers after the opener’s wicket, with Virat Kohli adding 76 and Ravindra Jadeja stretching the lead to 271 before Rohit Sharma declared just as Ishan Kishan got off the mark in his Test career.