India blow apart West Indies in the 1st Test with dominant showdown in Ahmedabad

India asserted their dominance in fine fashion as they completed a mammoth innings and 140-run win in the first Test within just three days. The hosts declared overnight with a 287-run lead as West Indies walked out to bat with an intimidating target ahead of them.

India didn’t waste any time at all in pushing the visitors into an uncomfortable corner as Mohammed Siraj started exactly from where he left in the first innings.

Siraj drew first blood in the form of Tagenarine Chanderpaul (8) before Ravindra Jadeja registered the scalp of John Campbell (14) to deliver a double blow to the Islanders. Despite Alick Athanaze’s (38) resilience at one end, West Indies couldn’t conjure any substantial support at the other.

Jadeja doubled his tally, dismissing Brandon King (5) while Kuldeep Yadav snuck one past the defence of Roston Chase (1) to reduce the visitors to 35/4. Jadeja dimmed further hope for the Windies, getting the better of Shai Hope (1) as half of West Indies was back to the pavilion even before they could cross the fifty-run mark.

Justin Greaves (25) finally created something significant as he and Athanaze added 46 runs for the sixth wicket, offering a glimmer of hope to the visitors. However, Washington Sundar snuffed out the resistance as he removed Athanaze while Siraj saw the back of Greaves, opening up the floodgates once again.

Jomel Warrican departed without opening his account as he was Siraj’s third scalp of the day. Johann Layne (14), Khary Pierre (13*) and Jayden Seales (22) added some runs to the scorecard, but it was all only to delay the inevitable before India bundled them out for 146.

Jadeja was the pick of the Indian lot with four wickets while Siraj claimed three in the second innings. India won the clash by a staggering innings and 140 runs, surging ahead in the two-match series. Ravindra Jadeja won the Player of the Match award for his century and impressive numbers of 4/54 in the second innings.

Brief scores:

West Indies – 162 (Justin Greaves 32, Shai Hope 26, Mohammed Siraj – 4/40)

India – 448/5 dec (Dhruv Jurel -125, Ravindra Jadeja – 104*, Roston Chase – 2/90)

West Indies - 146 (Alick Athanaze - 38, Ravindra Jadeja - 4/54, Mohammed Siraj - 3/21)