In a largely forgettable two-Test Series so far for the West Indies, paceman Kemar Roach has been the shining light for the hosts. After a five-wicket haul in the first Test in Antigua, the Windies speedster picked up 3/28 in the second innings of the second Tests against India at Sabina Park in Jamaica.
Roach sent back both Indian openers KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal for six and four respectively and induced an edged from Indian skipper Virat Kohli for a first-ball duck — a first for Kohli in Test cricket. He almost matched Jasprit Bumrah by getting a hat-trick, when he had Rahul and Kohli dismissed off successive deliveries and then got Ajinkya Rahane’s inside-edge of the bat but the ball just missed the stumps.
“Of course!” Roach told the media after the third day’s play, when asked if he thought he’d got the hat-trick. “Inside edge and missing the stumps — a bit unlucky but I am pretty happy with what happened.
“It was a good feeling. Obviously, the Indian batting line-up is very strong, so to be on a hat-trick against those guys is obviously a good feeling. I’d have liked to get it, but a little more luck the next time it hits on the stumps and it will go my way, but I am pretty happy for what happened,” he added.
“I think as a bowling group there is satisfaction in how we have done so far. Kudos to the guys. Happy for myself to be, obviously, be among some of the greats, so it’s a great achievement for me as well,” the 31-year-old said.
