A surreal concoction of loop, dip, and turn saw Ravichandran Ashwin castle West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite with a ripper of a delivery on Day 3 of the ongoing 2nd Test between India and West Indies in Port of Spain.
It was a stunning delivery from the veteran off-spinner that bamboozled the WI captain. In fact, it felt that such a nigh-unplayable ball was only required to topple Brathwaite who was becoming a thorn in India’s side as he 75 runs off 235 balls in WI’s first innings.
Turn has been available on the pitch but such amount of turn further meant more questions for even the hosts to have prepared such a spin-friendly pitch against India’s duo of Ashwin and Jadeja.
Ravichandran Ashwin bowled a full length delivery outside the off-stump, inviting a long front foot defensive shot from Brathwaite. However, the ball hung in the air, dipped in front of Brathwaite who was lunging with his forward defense. The ball spun sharply and significantly to find the gap between Brathwaite’s bat and pad and clatter into the stumps, leaving Brathwaite astounded.
Watch: Ravichandran Ashwin’s magical delivery to dismiss Kraigg Brathwaite
Unplayable! A classic off-spinner's dismissal from Ashwin 🔥 #INDvWIonFanCode #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/dPcUucA0xQ
— FanCode (@FanCode) July 22, 2023
Ravichandran Ashwin had taken 12 wickets in the first match. And continued his hold over the West Indies batters in the second Test as well.
West Indies alive in the match through attritional batting
The West Indies batters fought back for the first time in the series and showed tenacity in them through attritional batting on a rain-hit Day 3, keeping the hopes of making a draw alive. West Indies scored only 143 runs in the 67 overs bowled in the day’s play.
In reply to India’s 438, WI skipper Kraigg Brathwaite scored 75 off 235 balls. The next four batters also got starts, but none of them could reach a fifty. Heading into Day 4, the hosts will bank on Alick Athanaze (37*) and Jason Holder (11*) to lead them closer to India’s first-innings score. WI train by 209 runs with 5 wickets in hand.
