Jaiswal, Rohit tons put India in command

Team India extended their advantage over West Indies on day two of the first Test in Dominica as openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma scored centuries to put the visitors 162 ahead. Jaiswal batted the whole day for his patient 143*, while Rohit got to his tenth Test ton, taking the Men in Blue to 312 for 2 at stumps.

Although India lost just two wickets all day, the visitors struggled to score freely across the three sessions on a challenging wicket and a sluggish outfield. Sharma and Jaiswal resumed the morning at 80 for 0 and managed just 66 runs in the 32 overs bowled in the opening session, with the left-hander scoring just one boundary before Lunch. Pacers Jason Holder and Kemar Roach bowled tight lines in the opening spell of the day before the spinners extracted plenty of turn from the pitch, with Jaiswal surviving a few close calls against Rakheem Cornwall.

The Indian openers were happy to stay patient throughout the first period but took more initiative after the Lunch break. Jaiswal took on West Indies’ brief short ball ploy and brought up his maiden Test century off 215 deliveries, becoming only the 17th Indian and third opener after Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw to reach three figures on their debut.

Rohit Sharma got to his century soon after, driving Alick Athanaze through cover to bring up his second ton in Tests away from home. The Indian skipper, however, departed off the very next ball, gloving the spinner onto his thigh-pad and offering Joshua de Silva a simple catch to end the mammoth 229-run stand.

Shubman Gill walked in at number three for the first time in his Test career, but couldn’t make it count as he lasted just 11 deliveries, edging Jomel Warrican to second slip to give the hosts their second scalp of the day.

It was a battle of attrition in the final session, with the Indians managing just two runs an over after Tea despite not losing a wicket. Virat Kohli took 80 deliveries to find his first boundary, celebrating the achievement with a wry smile. Having used nine bowlers across the day, Kraigg Brathwaite delayed taking the second new ball till the 101st over. Kemar Roach found some extra bite with the new ball, pinning Jaiswal on the pads for 133, but Richard Kettleborough turned down the appeal. Replays showed that the left-hander was out with three reds, but the West Indies had no reviews remaining to send the decision upstairs.

Jaiswal finished the day on 143, while Kohli managed an unbeaten 36, taking India to a comfortable position of 312 for 2 at stumps, leading by 162 runs.