Blackwood’s attempt to take on Jadeja results in a remarkable catch by Siraj! It was a tossed-up delivery, full on off-stump. Blackwood, feeling a sense of urgency, decided to go for a powerful shot down the ground. Unfortunately, he mistimed it completely. The ball gripped and turned slightly, catching the outer edge of his bat. Consequently, Blackwood sliced it towards mid-off.
However, Siraj displayed incredible athleticism as he back-pedaled and extended his right hand to snatch a breathtaking catch. Despite scraping his elbow in the process, Siraj’s pain will surely fade away when he witnesses that catch on the big screen. With this wicket, India adds another scalp to their tally just before the players head back for Lunch.
India has asserted their dominance in this session of play. Having won the toss and opting to bat, the Windies began steadily, successfully negotiating the early challenges posed by the new ball. India’s fast bowlers struggled to make early breakthroughs as both Chanderpaul and Brathwaite displayed resolute batting at the crease. However, the momentum shifted when Ashwin was introduced into the attack and he managed to deceive Chanderpaul with a skidding delivery, uprooting his stumps in the 13th over.
The Windies suffered another setback as Brathwaite carelessly threw away his wicket, attempting an ill-advised slog across the line and getting caught at cover by his counterpart. Thakur then joined the wicket-taking party by inducing an edge from Reifer, leading to his dismissal. Subsequently, it seemed like the Windies had found some stability with Blackwood and debutant Athanaze showcasing solid batting.
Miyaan Bhai ki daring 😯 #INDvWIonFanCode #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/LUdvAmmbVr
— FanCode (@FanCode) July 12, 2023
But just when it appeared that they would reach the lunch break unscathed, Blackwood made a rash decision to take on the bowler and paid the price with his wicket. With four wickets down and not many runs on the board, the atmosphere in the Windies camp is undoubtedly subdued. India may already be contemplating their batting innings later today, considering the events of this first session.