Kolkata: Carrying his form from shorter format of the game the test debutant Rohit Sharma rescues India by smashing a maiden hundred that helped India recovered from slump to finish the the day 2 of the 1st test aganst West Indies at 354/6.
Rohit was involved in two partnership, with Dhoni(73 for 6th wicket) and than with R. Ashwin( 198 for 7th wicket). Ashwin who is no voice with the bat, once again rose to the occasion to not only stick around but also upgraded his own reputation as a batsman by remaining unbeaten at 92.
Rohit showed great concentration and applied himself when India needed him most as home side had slipped to 156/6 after lunch. He got a very good support from Ashwin.
This Mumbai batsman became the 10th batsmen to score a hundred on test debut.
Earlier resuming the day India lost four quick wickets before lunch before Dhoni and Rohit started repair workand put on 73 runs for 6th wicket. But after lunch when Dhoni was looking to open up when Best, bowling with a changed ball, had him caught
behind by Ramdin.
Nest batsman Ashwin made sure the India did not lose any more wicket and with Rohit he took India to tea 229/6, with Rohit on 61 and Ashwin on 38. India still needed 5 runs to level the score.
After tea Rohit again added 73 runs for 7th wicket with Ashwin who played like a seasoned batsman and gave confidence to his partner that they can still come back in the back.
In the morning resuming at 37/0, India lost four quick wickets and were in all sort of trouble as off spinner Shilling ford sliced through the top batting order.
Shillingford was the pick of the bowler for West Indies who were defending a paltry total of 234 on day 2 . Shillingford clean bowled over night batsman Shikhar Dhawan (23) who was looking uncomfortable against the off spinner right from his very first ball.
Murali Vijay (26) was the next one to be stumped by Denesh Ramdin off Shillingford's ball for 26.
Cheteshwar Pujara was the third to go caught behind off a ball by Sheldon Cotterell for 17.
The cynosure of all eyes Sachin Tendulkar went to bat amidst deafening uproar but was out leg before off a Shillingford ball after making 10 runs. He was followed by Kohli who made just 3 runs.
Shilllingford has taken 4 for 53 in two sessions. Best and Cottrell has taken one wicket each.
