Kingston Test: Roston Chase ton leads West Indies to inspiring draw against India

Kingston Rookie batsman Roston Chase conjured up a heroic maiden Test century to lead a remarkable West Indies fightback as the hosts forced a frustrating draw on India on the final day of the second match here WednesdayWest Indies batsmen Jason Holder L and Roston Chase congratulate one another at the end of their match on day five of their Second Test cricket match at Sabina Park in Kingston PicAFPChase playing only his second Test match came up with a resolute 137 off 269 balls and in the process raised three matchsaving partnerships with his teammates The 24yearold batsman batted through the day and became only the fourth West Indies player to score a hundred and claim a fivewicket haul in same match He had returned figures of five for 121 in Indias first inningsChase joined three illustrious West Indies names Sir Garfiled Sobers Collie Smith and Dennis Atkinson on the list of Caribbean players who achieved the feat in the past West Indies began the day at a pitiable 48 for four but lost only two wickets in the entire fifth day scuppering Indias ambitions to take a 20 lead in the fourmatch seriesChase joined overnight batsman Jermaine Blackwood 63 at the start of play in the morning and raised a 93run stand for the fifth wicket to deny India much successAs sun shone bright and sunny the wicket eased out a lot and hardly offered any assistance to the Indian bowlers Chase then weaved a 144run partnership with nextman inShane Dowrich 74 who became a victim of umpire Ian Goulds misjudgement on an LBW appeal by R Ashwin After Dowrichs dismissal skipper Jason Holder joined his junior colleague and provided him tremendous support by hitting a fighting unbeaten 64 putting together a 103run stand for the unconquered seventh wicketChases knock had 15 shots to the fence and one over the ropes while holder struck eight fours and six Only 29 overs remained in the last session of the match to be bowled as India looked to make use of the new ball But they were never happy with the proceedings complaining often to the umpires about the shape of the ball even though the ball wasnt changedChase and Holder were helped in their endeavour by the Indian pacers in particular Ishant Sharma 156 who bowled short and wide repeatedly The spinners couldniquestt get much purchase from the pitch either which was shorn of day five characteristics and the batsmen did not have much difficulty in negotiation the Indian bowlingThe two teams shook hands with 35 minutes left before the scheduled close of playIndia lead the series 10 and the third Test is scheduled to begin on August 9 at Gros Islet Postlunch Chase and Dowrich looked to bat on for time but they were not subdued They looked to attack the Indian bowlers who erred in line and length First up Dowrich reached his third Test fifty off 78 balls and in doing so brought up the 100partnership with Chase off 162 balls The West Indies 250mark also came up within an houriquests play in the 54th overHowever Dowrich was given out LBW after the break by umpire Ian Gould off Amit Mishra 285 despite the fact that he had an insideedge The batsman left shaking his head but Chase made good on his promise and duly reached his maiden Test hundred off 175 ballsHe had skipper Holder for company and by tea time the two werent looking uncomfortable at the crease at all as the West Indies crossed the 300mark in the 79th over India did take the new ball immediately after the 80th over but that too didniquestt provide them any breakthroughs as the hosts negated the lead and went ahead thereafter There are now 29 overs remaining in the match for the visitors to force a resultStarting at overnight 48 for four Chase and Blackwood came out with a plan to defy the Indian bowlers There had been no rain since play on day four had been called off and not a cloud was in sight today The visitors started off with Shami and Amit Mishra but Blackwood attacked them both and hit them out of the attack Ishant and Umesh Yadav 044 were then deployed but Blackwood continued attacking them too The former bowled a bit wider outside of the offstump in a bid to keep things tight while Yadav used the shortball approach against himIt didniquestt work as Blackwood smacked his second fifty in the Test off only 41 balls bringing it up in the 31st over as 79 runs came in the first houriquests play West Indies also crossed the 100mark earlier in the 25th over The duo put 50 off just 54 balls and it seemed as if for once the hosts batting would come good Ashwin then was finally introduced into the attack in the 28th over of the innings with skipper Virat Kohli opting to hold him back earlier in the sessionBlackwood hit a straight six in his second over but Ashwin got his revenge as he squeezed the batsman for runs bowling from round the wicket The plan worked and Cheteshwar Pujara too a brilliant diving catch at forward short leg in the 34th over to send Blackwood back to the pavilionChase was then joined in by Dowrich 59 balls 2 fours and the two overcame some miscommunication early in the innings to defy the Indian bowling further After taking his maiden fivewicket haul earlier in the match Chase then reached his maiden Test fifty off 84 balls and opened up to play some attacking strokes against Mishra who bowled a predominantly legstump lineThe Indian bowling didniquestt really trouble the duo as they brought up the 50partnership off 82 balls and the 200mark came up for the West Indies in the 50th over Yadav and Shami did get the ball to reverse later in the session but couldnt get another success before the lunch break as the two batsmen looked comfortable at the crease