1st Test: West Indies running out of answers against India

ANTIGUA: West Indies's worst fears are beginning to come true. A benign pitch and a friendly bowling attack up against Virat Kohli and his cohorts -there was little chance that the hosts would restrict India to a modest total after the visitors took first guard in the first Test.
The prognosis came true in resounding fashion on Day Two when India, led by their irresistible captain, put forth their best foot forward to consolidate on the gains of the first day.At the time of going to print, nearly an hour after lunch, India were 446 for five in 136 overs.
R Ashwin was batting on 84 and Wriddhiman Saha was batting on 21. Kohli reached his maiden double century at the stroke of lunch also the first by an Indian captain overseas and Ashwin hit a composed fifty to grind the opposition.
Devendra Bishoo, after play on Day One, had suggested that his team could come back in the Test with some quick wickets on Friday morning. "You never know in cricket. If we can get a few of them out in the morning, we will be back," the leggie had said.
However, it was largely one-way traffic on Friday as Kohli and Ashwin presented stout defence and deft strokeplay.
Their 168-run partnership for the fifth wicket took India to a position from where they can hope to attack relentlessly.
The only success West Indies could get midway through the day was the wicket of Kohli, who dragged a Shannon Gabriel delivery on to the stumps immediately after lunch. The damage, however, had been done by then and the Indian captain had made sure it would be West Indies who would be doing all the catching up in this game now.
Ashwin has always had a liking for West Indian bowling. He averages close to 70 against them and both his Test hundreds have come against the Caribbeans. Here too, he was in his elements as West Indies posed little threat.
He did have his moments against Gabriel before lunch, though, being dropped by wicketkeeper Shen Dowrich off Gabriel at 43. Otherwise, Ashwin more than justified his elevation to No.6 in the batting order.
He revelled in his silky drives and got many a run through the steers past the slips. Gabriel, yet again, bowled his heart out with good pace and a good line. However, he had little support from the other end.