In a captivating display of skill, India’s star spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, delivered a mesmerizing ball that sent the West Indies captain, Kraigg Brathwaite (75), back to the pavilion. The hosts had reached a score of 174/3 by tea on the third day of the second Test at Queen’s Park Oval.
Brathwaite had been in exceptional form, leading the Windies’ innings confidently until he faced the number 1 Test bowler’s exceptional delivery, which was hailed as the ‘ball of the series.’ The entire stadium, along with Brathwaite himself, stood stunned by the sheer brilliance of Ashwin’s magical performance.
With masterful precision, Ashwin skillfully exploited the gap between the Windies skipper’s bat and pad, striking the stumps directly. This crucial wicket proved to be a turning point for the Indian bowlers, as it brought them back into the match on a rain-hit third day.
The third day witnessed a mere 67 overs of play, as the West Indies batters were aiming for a draw and managed to add just 143 runs to their total. They still trailed by 209 runs behind India’s first innings score of 438.
Despite the defensive approach from the West Indies, the Indian bowling remained relentless in its intensity. Ashwin delivered what was acclaimed as the ‘ball of the series,’ while Siraj showcased his skill with a perfect in-cutter, dismissing Joshua Da Silva right before the rain-break. This brought the day to an even keel on what was considered the flattest of pitches.
Unplayable! A classic off-spinner's dismissal from Ashwin 🔥 #INDvWIonFanCode #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/dPcUucA0xQ
— FanCode (@FanCode) July 22, 2023
During the course of the day, West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite exhibited exceptional concentration, frustrating the Indian attack on the unresponsive track. However, the world’s No. 1 Test bowler, Ashwin, stole the limelight with a magical moment that brought smiles back to the Indian camp.