Kingston: Opener Lokesh Rahul hit a career-best 158 on day 2 of the second test match between India and West Indies in Kingston,Jamaica on Sunday, taking India to a comfortable 358 for 5.
At stumps, India had consolidated their lead to a sizeable 162 runs despite only 232 runs being scored in the 88 overs bowled in the day as the visitors looked to grind the home team with an aim of outbatting them.
Ajinkya Rahane looked confident during his unbeaten knock of 42 in company of Wriddhiman Saha (17 batting). With three days of play left, India has enough time to register another facile win over a below-par Test outfit.
Rahul certainly was the hero of the day as he scored his third Test century on foreign soil with the help of 15 boundaries and three huge sixes—the first of which enabled him to complete a coveted ton. It was a compact innings in which he played 303 balls.
He had a partnership of 121 runs for the second wicket with Cheteshwar Pujara, who scored a dogged 46 off 159 balls with four boundaries. Rahul also had a 69 run stand with skipper Virat Kohli, who scored 44 off 90 balls. Kohli’s innings had four boundaries and a six.
By the time, Rahul was adjuedged caught behind down leg-side off Shanon Gabriel (1/50), he had put India in driver’s seat.
Kohli, who has been in sublime form was dismissed just when he was looking to take on the spinners having hit a six and couple of fours off Devendra Bishoo’s (1/79) bowling.
It was spinner Roston Chase (2/91), who bowled an off-break which Kohli tried to guide only to offer a simple catch to Rajendra Chandrika at forward short leg.Ravichandran Ashwin (3) was adjudged leg-before off a Bishoo delivery that hit the toe.
Rahane and Saha negotiated the remaining 12.5 overs adding 31 runs with minimum fuss.
PTI