Ashwin sizzles as India thrash West Indies in Antigua

NORTH SOUND, Antigua and Barbuda: India captain Virat Kohli lauded a “complete performance” by his team after they thrashed West Indies by an innings and 92 runs inside four days in the first Test on Sunday.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin collected 7-83 in the second innings as the home team collapsed to 231 all out after being forced to follow-on at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound.

It was Ashwin’s third career seven-wicket haul, his first outside India. He had not picked up any wickets in the first innings.

“The fast bowlers bowled really well in the first (innings) and I wasn’t really finding my rhythm to be very honest,” Ashwin, who also scored a century, said in an on-field interview after being named man-of-the-match.

“I got a good long spell after lunch today. Rhythm is the most important thing for me. I wasn’t quite comfortable yesterday. Today was very different.”

Carlos Brathwaite, batting at number nine, top scored for West Indies with 51 not out, while Marlon Samuels (50) and Devendra Bishoo (45) tried to frustrate the visitors but they only delayed the inevitable.

India ensured they would not lose with a first-innings total of 566 for eight declared.

Pacemen Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav did the damage in the first innings with four wickets each, before Ashwin took over on Sunday.

“It was a complete performance,” said India captain Virat Kohli, who played no small part in the victory with his first career double century.

Score Board

India won toss

India 1st innings 566 dec (V Kohli 200, R Ashwin 113; K Brathwaite 3-65)

West Indies 1st innings 243 all-out (K Brathwaite 74; U Yadav 4-41)

West Indies 2nd innings (follow on)

K C Brathwaite lbw b Sharma         2

R Chandrika c Saha b Ashwin         31

D M Bravo c Rahane b Yadav         10

M N Samuels b Ashwin        50

J Blackwood c Kohli b Ashwin         0

R L Chase c sub (K Rahul) b Ashwin 8

†S O Dowrich lbw b Mishra   9

*J O Holder b Ashwin 16

C R Brathwaite not out        51

D Bishoo c Pujara b Ashwin  45

S T Gabriel b Ashwin 4

Extras (nb 5)  5

Total (all out; 78 overs)       231

Fall: 1-2, 2-21, 3-88, 4-92, 5-101, 6-106, 7-120, 8-132, 9-227, 10-231

Bowling: Sharma 11-2-27-1 (3nb); Shami 10-3-26-0 (1nb); Yadav 13-4-34-1; Ashwin 25-8-83-7; Mishra 19-3-61-1 (1nb)

Result: India won by an innings and 92 runs

Series: India lead the 4-match series by 1-0

Test debut: R L Chase (West Indies)

Man of the Match: R Ashwin (India)

Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and I J Gould (England). TV umpire: G O Brathwaite. Match referee: R S Madugalle (Sri Lanka)