On the fourth morning of the second and last Test between India and West Indies at Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad on Sunday, Mohammed Siraj scythed through the West Indies lower order, completing a five-wicket haul as the host team was swept out for 255 in their first innings. The match was the second and final Test between India and West Indies.
In spite of the fact that they were aware of the possibility of bad weather, the away team raced to a score of 98 for one in their second innings in only 12 overs before the first rain delay of the day forced them to have an early lunch. At this point, the visitors’ total advantage was already a solid 281 runs.
Mukesh Kumar, a rookie seam bowling partner of Siraj’s, was the one who started the collapse that resulted in the West Indies losing their last five wickets for just 26 runs. Siraj took the bowling honors with statistics of five for 60, but it was Mukesh Kumar who was the one who started the fall.
He dismissed Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, and Shannon Gabriel by bowling a full length and making full use of movement through the air and off the seam in humid conditions. He did this by catching Alick Athanaze leg-before with the fourth ball of the day, which opened the door for Siraj at the other end.
The fact that Siraj took the last two wickets with consecutive balls puts him in position to accomplish a hat trick if he gets a wicket with the first delivery he bowls in the second innings.
Then, Rohit Sharma scored 57 runs off 44 balls, including five fours and three sixes, before Joseph took a catch at fine leg off Gabriel. He had profited from two easy missed opportunities earlier in his innings.
After lunch, Yashasvi Jaiswal (who is now not out) and Shubman Gill will resume the drive for runs, if the conditions are favorable.