Sharma show on Day 2 as India commands 3rd test

Ishant Sharma frustrated the West Indies with the bat and foiled the home side with the ball to keep India on top after two days of the first test on Friday.

Sharma helped India from 203-6 overnight to a bonus 297 all out, then took 5-42 to limit the West Indies reply to 189-8, trailing by 108 runs.

The quick demise of Rishabh Pant for 24 drew Sharma to the crease, alongside Ravindra Jadeja. Together, they pushed India hopes of a 250 total far beyond expectations.

India's Ishant Sharma celebrates taking the wicket of West Indies' Shai Hope during day two of the first Test cricket match at the Sir Vivian Richards cricket ground in North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoRicardo Mazalan)

Their composed stand of 60 lifted India to 267 until Sharma was tricked by a slower ball from Shannon Gabriel and bowled on 19. Sharma was the eighth man out.

But Jadeja continued to corral the tail-enders, striking up a handy 29-run stand for the last wicket with fellow fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah.

Jadeja celebrated his 11th test fifty, his second straight and fourth in six innings with India's only six of the innings, a flat swat over midwicket. Jadeja was last man out on 58 from 112 balls, and India had an imposing total.

India's Ishant Sharma plays a shot against West Indies during day two of their first Test cricket match at the Sir Vivian Richards cricket ground in North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoRicardo Mazalan)

Gabriel finished with three wickets, and Kemar Roach four.

The West Indies reply was full of waste. Unlike the India top order which was blasted out, all of the main home batsmen made starts only to fail to go on.

John Campbell edged a Mohammed Shami yorker on to his stumps on 23, and fellow opener Kraigg Brathwaite was caught and bowled by Sharma at knee height on 14.

India's bowler Ishant Sharma is greeted by teammates after taking a return catch to dismiss West Indies' Shimron Hetmyer during day two of the first Test cricket match at the Sir Vivian Richards cricket ground in North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoRicardo Mazalan)

Newcomer Shamarh Brooks took 16 balls to get off the mark, and on his 36th ball he was out for 11 to Jadeja.

Darren Bravo and Roston Chase led West Indies to tea, but Bravo was out to the first ball he faced afterward, trapped by Bumrah on 18, and costing his side a review.

Chase was up to 48 when he was out to a brilliant catch at square leg by KL Rahul, as Sharma took the last four wickets of the day, the last three at a cost of eight runs.

India's bowler Ishant Sharma celebrates with captain Virat Kohli the dismissal of West Indies' Kemar Roach during day two of the first Test cricket match at the Sir Vivian Richards cricket ground in North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoRicardo Mazalan)

Shai Hope edged behind on 24, and in the same over Shimron Hetmyer was caught and bowled by Sharma at ankle height on 35, and Roach was caught in the slips on 0.

Left in the middle were captain Jason Holder on 10 not out, and Miguel Cummins, who was yet to score.

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India's Ishant Sharma takes the catch to dismiss West Indies' Kraigg Brathwaite during day two of the first Test cricket match at the Sir Vivian Richards cricket ground in North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoRicardo Mazalan)

India's bowler Ishant Sharma celebrates the dismissal of West Indies' Roston Chase during day two of the first Test cricket match at the Sir Vivian Richards cricket ground in North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoRicardo Mazalan)

India's Jasprit Bumrah celebrates with team captain Virat Kohli the dismissal of West Indies' Darren Bravo during day two of the first Test cricket match at the Sir Vivian Richards cricket ground in North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoRicardo Mazalan)

India's Ravindra Jadeja plays a shot from the bowling of West Indies' Shannon Gabriel during day two of their first Test cricket match at the Sir Vivian Richards cricket ground in North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoRicardo Mazalan)

CORRECTS INDIA"S PLAYER'S NAME - India’s Jasprit Bumrah plays a shot from the bowling of West Indies' Kemar Roach during day two of the first Test cricket match at the Sir Vivian Richards cricket ground in North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoRicardo Mazalan)