Indian pacer Ishant Sharma smashed his maiden Test ton on the second day of the second Test at Sabina Park in Jamaica on Saturday. Taking 126 innings to score a half-century, the towering seamer guided India to a respectable total by putting a century stand for the eighth wicket with Hanuma Vihari.
Maiden Test Fifty for Ishant Sharma 👏#WIvIND pic.twitter.com/AhKmVBOUjp
— Anupam (@Anupam381) August 31, 2019
Sharma did something extremely vague after reaching the landmark, and his celebration was duly supported by the skipper Virat Kohli, who scored 76 during India’s innings.
Posting 416 on board, India began their bowling attack in absolute style, with pacer Jasprit Bumrah dismantling the West Indies batting unit in no time. His 16/16, which includes a sensational hat-trick, put West Indies at 87 for seven at stumps.
And with that being done, Bumrah joined spinner Harbhajan Singh and left-arm pacer Irfan Pathan as the only Indians to take Test hat-tricks. He had already dismissed John Campbell and then added the other opener, Kraigg Brathwaite, after the hat-trick accomplishment.
He also returned after treatment for cramp and with his very first delivery back into the attack removed West Indies captain Jason Holder, leaving debutants Jahmar Hamilton and Rahkeem Cornwall to survive to the close of play.
Any hope of Bumrah taking all ten wickets in the innings had ended when Mohammed Shami terminated the streaky innings of Shimron Hetmyer by bowling the left-hander for 34.
Feature image courtesy; AFP / Randy Brooks
