India in control after Day 1 of Sachin Tendulkar’s Penultimate Test

All eyes were on Sachin Tendulkar playing his 199th test for India but fast bowler Mohammad Shami managed to hog the limelight as he made a dream debut on his home ground picking up four wickets as India bowled out West Indies for a paltry 234 on day one of their first Test at the Eden Gardens. Shami finished with impressive figures of 4/71 in 18 overs. The 23-year-old Shami’s wickets included Kieran Powell, top-scorer Marlon Samuels, Denesh Ramdin and Sheldon Cottrell.

After winning the toss, West Indies captain Darren Sammy decided to bat first but the decision backfired for the visitors as they lost wickets at regular intervals. West Indies lost both the openers quickly but Marlon Samuels and Darren Bravo put on an invaluable 91 runs partnership for the 3rd wicket to bring some respectability to the West Indian scoreline. From West Indies, Marlon Samuels was the top scorer with 65 while Shivnarine Chanderpaul made 36. Apart from Shami, R. Ashwin picked up 2 wickets. Sachin Tendulkar also bowled 2 overs and he did not disappoint the Kolkata crowd picking up the wicket of Shane Shillingford.

At stumps, India were comfortable placed at 37 for no loss with the two openers, Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay, at the crease. At the end of first day’s play, India trailed the West Indies by 197 runs with all their wickets intact.

Apart from Shami, Rohit Sharma also made his Test debut for India, and thereby becoming the first cricketer to make his debut after playing 100 One-Day Internationals. For West Indies, Sheldon Cotterel made his Test debut.

Brief Score:

West Indies 1st innings: 234 all out in 78 overs. (Marlon Samuels 65, S Chanderpaul 36; Mohammed Shami 4/71, R Ashwin 2/52).

India 1st innings: 37 for no loss in 12 overs. (Shikhar Dhawan 21 n.o., Murali Vijay 16 n.o.).