WI VS IND 2ND TEST

Rohit Sharma collects the trophy and the Indian team gathers around for the team photograph. Right then, that's all from this game. The rain on the final day forced the second and final Test of the series to end in a draw. Courtesy of their dominant win at Dominica, India clinched the series 1-0. The two teams now shift their focus to the white-ball leg, consisting of 3 ODIs followed by 5 T20Is. The first ODI of the three-match ODI series will take place on Thursday, the 27th of July at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. The first ball will be bowled at 7.00 pm IST (1.30 pm GMT). As always, you can join us early for the build-up. Until then, take care and goodbye!

Rohit Sharma the skipper of India, says that every win is different. Adds that playing in the Caribbean is a different challenge. Mentions that he is happy with how everything panned out. States that it was unfortunate to get any play on Day 5. Also says that the intent with the bat in the second innings was positive. Adds that they were quite confident of winning the Test if play had happened. On Mohammed Siraj, he says that he has taken a giant step and has led the attack well. Mentions that he does not want one bowler to lead the attack and wants everyone to take responsibility. On Ishan Kishan, he says that they need players like him who can be promoted up the order for quick runs. Adds that Kishan was not afraid and was the first one to put his hand up. Reckons that they also need batters like Virat Kohli to stabilize the innings. Feels that they have great depth and are in the right place. Also says that they want to play consistent cricket and do well in all three aspects of the game.

Kraigg Brathwaite, the captain of West Indies starts by saying that they showed fight with the bat in this game. Adds that batting more than 100 overs was good. Reckons that they could be more disciplined with the ball. Feels that losing the last five wickets quickly in the first innings wasn't good. States that the key from here is consistency. Also says that they were positive to chase before the start of Day 5 as they had 98 overs. Feels that it was unfortunate that they did not get any play. Shares that Alick Athanaze and Kirk Mckenzie were promising and are the future of West Indies cricket. On the tour of Australia later in the year, he says that getting match practice through A tours and preparatory camps will be good.

Mohammed Siraj is the Player of the Match for his first-inning bowling figures of 23.4-6-60-5. He says that it is his first Player of the Match in Test cricket and his best figures which makes him really happy. Adds that there is not much on offer for pace bowlers so he is even happier to do well on this surface. Mentions that when there is help off the surface for the fast bowlers, anyone can take wickets but when there is not much on offer and you take wickets, it gives you more confidence. Claims that Rohit Sharma told him to do what he has been doing and not put too much pressure on himself so that what he has been doing.

Time for the presentations...

The visitors had a first-inning lead of 183 and came out in the second inning looking to get some quick runs as the rain had begun making an impact on Day 4. Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal added a 98-run opening partnership in 11.5 overs with the skipper getting his second half-century of the game. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill contributed as well but it was Ishan Kishan who stole the show with his maiden Test half-century which he achieved in 33 deliveries and helped India set a target of 365. Kraigg Brathwaite came out to bat with positive intent but a double-strike from Ravichandran Ashwin had set up the game nicely for India to win.

India did not get success with the ball straight away as the Windies started their batting effort well and did not lose a wicket for more than 34 overs. Kraigg Brathwaite notched up a half-century and all the top five batters got off to starts but could not convert it to a big one. They went into Stumps on Day 3 with 229 runs on the board having lost 5 wickets but things went downhill for them in the morning session of Day 4. Mohammed Siraj was on song and rattled the tail to claim his best bowling figures in Test cricket with a five-wicket haul. Mukesh Kumar claimed two wickets on his debut and Jadeja has two scalps under his kitty as well with Ashwin chipping in with one.

West Indies won the toss and asked India to bat which seemed to backfire as Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal added a 139-run opening partnership. Yashasvi Jaiswal got to his half-century and continued his good run in Test cricket while the skipper fell 20 runs short of consecutive Test centuries. Virat Kohli reached his 29th Test ton in his 500th international game and fifties from the spin twins Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin helped India post 438 runs in the first inning. Kemar Roach and Jomel Warrican chipped in with three wickets each for the hosts and Jason Holder bowled really well as he was rewarded with two scalps.

What a disappointing end to the Test match! The two sets of players toiled hard for almost 4 days but in the end, it is the rain gods that have taken center stage. The match is drawn and India win the series 1-0. India looked to be ahead in this game coming into Day 5 with 8 wickets to claim but West Indies also had a glimmer of hope to level the series by chasing down 289 runs. There were some good performances throughout the match but the 100th Test match between West Indies and India has a draw against its name.

UPDATE - 12.20 am IST (6.40 pm GMT, the previous day) - The inevitable has happened! The rain has had the final say and Day 5 of the second Test has been called off. The centennial Test between India and West Indies has ended in a draw and it is India who win the two-match Test series with a 1-0 scoreline.

UPDATE - 11.58 pm IST (6.28 pm GMT) - The rain has got really heavy now. The umpires and the players have retreated to the dressing room and it looks like we are in for a long wait once again. The massive cloud has exploded and it is really dark out there. There are puddles forming on the covers and across the outfield, undoing all the hard work done by the ground staff. The long wait continues...

UPDATE - 11.14 pm IST (5.44 pm GMT) - The rain continues to play hide and seek! Just as we were nearing the revised resumption time, it became dark and gloomy again. The ground staff reckon that another spell of rain is just around the corner and have covered the entire square again as a precautionary measure. All we can do right now is wait and hope the dark clouds do not bring about rain.

UPDATE - 11.03 pm IST (5.33 pm GMT) - Good news! It has stopped raining and the covers have been taken off by the ground staff. If there is no further rain, play will resume at 11.10 pm IST (5.40 pm GMT). Here's hoping that we have seen the last of the rain and we will now have uninterrupted two sessions of play. Don't go anywhere because the action is coming your way really soon.

UPDATE - 10.38 pm IST (5.08 pm GMT) - We are afraid but we have a dampening update! The rain has made its appearance again and looks like we will have to wait a little longer. It is not a heavy shower but the mizzle is enough to force the ground staff to put the covers back on. This is disheartening for the players, fans and more so for the ground staff who have done a tremendous job to get the field ready for play.

UPDATE - 10.06 pm IST (4.36 pm GMT) - Folks, we finally have a start time on this fifth and final day of the centennial Test! The Day 5 action will commence at 10.45 pm IST (5.15 pm GMT). A total of 67 overs are to be bowled in the day provided the rain stays away. Both teams have arrived at the ground and we are not far away from the action.

UPDATE - 9.38 pm IST (4.08 pm GMT) - Right then, the umpires have decided to take Lunch here on Day 5. The covers are completely off the square and the weather has held up as well. Live visuals from the ground depict a promising picture of the outfield which is looking ready for play. We have lost a session due to the heavy downpour in the morning but we are hopeful of having action in the remaining two sessions. We will keep you posted.

UPDATE - 9.03 pm IST (3.33 pm GMT) - More promising news! The ground staff have removed the water from the covers and are in the process of gradually removing the covers. The sun is out as well which should help in drying up the wet areas of the outfield. Let's hope the weather holds up and it does not ruin the hard work currently being done by the ground staff. Stick around as we should have news regarding the resumption soon.

UPDATE - 8.30 pm IST (3 pm GMT) - The rain has stopped and the umpires are out on the ground without their umbrellas. They are having a look around and are not in their uniform yet so we do not expect the game to start really soon. The puddles around the ground need to be dried up and the players who were still in their hotel rooms will need to make their way to the stadium. The covers are still placed near the center of the ground and there is water collected on it which the ground staff is busy clearing. It is the longest period for which the rain has not fallen so we are optimistic that we can have some action if the sky stays clear. We will bring you more updates shortly.

UPDATE - 7.42 pm IST (2.12 pm GMT) - The intensity of rain has reduced but it is still a steady drizzle. The rain needs to completely subside for the ground staff to remove the covers and start their work of mopping up the outfield. We still have plenty of time remaining in the day and considering the West Indies collapse in the first innings, India would be thinking that a session and a half would be enough for them to take the remaining 8 wickets. Stay tuned for further updates.

UPDATE - 6.54 pm IST (1.24 pm GMT) - Oops! Not the news any of us would have wanted to start the day with. It's bucketing down at the Queen's Park Oval and there is no chance of having a prompt start. The covers are firmly in place and live pictures show that puddles have already started to form in the outfield. That said, the drainage at this ground is excellent as witnessed in the past couple of days. It should not take much time for the ground staff to get the field ready for play once the rain stops. Let's hope the weather clears up soon and we are able to get underway on Day 5.