India vs West Indies 2nd Test: Kemar Roach backs West Indies to hang in for two days at Sabina Park
West Indies are staring at defeat in the second and final Test against India, having ended day three on 45/2 in pursuit of a monumental target of 468, but their inspirational fast bowler Kemar Roach has not lost hope.
Two days remain at Sabina Park and West Indies’ batsmen will have to find a way to get past their tormenter in the series, Jasprit Bumrah, who has 12 wickets at 8.75 apiece.
Roach, who took three wickets during India’s second innings on Sunday, including that of Virat Kohli for a first-ball duck, believes that all hope is not lost
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“There is more than enough time. Two days left in the Test match. Just bat. Nothing more to be said about that,” he said after stumps.” The guys haven’t had a good score in this Test series so far, so it’s about guys just applying themselves and going out there and being positive and put some runs on the board.
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“It’s flattened out a bit more. It’s not as bouncy as it was the first couple of days. There is still enough there for the bowlers. Still have to apply yourself as a batsman and have to grind and get that score, but I think once you get in it gets way easier – so it’s all about the guys being positive and grinding and obviously getting the score.”
Roach swung his way to 38 from 31 balls, with five sixes, during West Indies’ final innings in Antigua to help get the hosts from 50/9 to 100, and at Sabina Park again showed his batting skill with a more subdued 17 off 31 balls. He knows he will be called on again to contribute down the order.
“Obviously I am pretty confident with the bat recently. Just backing my ability, trust my talent and go there and hit the ball,” said Roach. “I have been doing it pretty well and pretty proud of that. I just keep it simple for me – I know my shots and I just wait for the balls to come in that area.”Roach found himself on a hat-trick Sunday following his dismissals of KL Rahul and Kohli off successive deliveries. He then looked on in anguish as the hat-trick ball was squirted past the stumps for four by Ajinkya Rahane.
Asked if he thought he had got Rahane, Roach replied: “Of course. Inside edge and missing the stumps – a bit unlucky but I am pretty happy with what happened”.
Roach, after Jason Holder during India’s first innings, was a beacon for West Indies on day three. He did not manage a hat-trick but took satisfaction from the way he hustled India’s batsmen with pace and movement.
“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,” he said. “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.
“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.”