Hodge drives West Indies forward on rain-affected opening day

Only 67 overs of play were possible on the opening day of the first ever Test at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba. But Kavem Hodge’s unbeaten 83 gave West Indies an early foothold over proceedings against Pakistan, as the hosts ended Day 1 on 194/3. Shai Hope gave Hodge excellent company in an unbroken 88-run stand for the fourth wicket, while Mohammad Abbas emerged the pick of the lot among Pakistan’s bowlers.

Roston Chase opted to bat first upon winning the toss but Abbas and Khurram Shahzad began with a probing new ball spell that kept West Indies down to 13 in the first eight overs. Abbas soon had his reward, getting Brandon King to chop it onto his stumps before Hodge joined the typically dogged Tagenarine Chanderpaul, who brought a different modus operandi to the injured and otherwise first choice opener John Campbell. Babar Azam, back at the helm for Pakistan, exhausted a review shortly before drinks with the ball pitching outside leg stump but the hour truly belonged to the visitors.

One delivery into left-arm spinner Ali Usman’s first over in international cricket, the covers were brought on due to rain, resulting in a delay of nearly two hours. Both Hodge and Chanderpaul remained steady if not flamboyant after the resumption, taking West Indies past fifty before Hodge began to open up with regular boundaries. Chanderpaul’s 77-ball 21-run vigil was brought to a halt by Aamer Jamal, with the southpaw pushing at one that could have been left alone on line.

Hodge did not shy away from playing his shots though, playing the pull in particular to great effect as he picked up consecutive fours off Jamal. Amir Jangoo smashed a pull off Jamal over fine leg himself shortly after slashing the same bowler to the third man fence as the batters made a conscious attempt to pounce on any scoring opportunity. But Abbas came to Pakistan’s aid again, trapping Jangoo in front as a late review call from Babar paid off.

Hodge raised his fifty and took West Indies through to Tea, following which it was all about the hosts as Hodge and Hope continued to rotate strike effortlessly. The irony of it all was that while 67 runs came in the final session, there were no boundaries scored off the bat, with the only scoring delivery of four or more coming in the form of byes. Play was extended until 6 PM local time but the fading light forced Stumps to be drawn with 18 minutes still left in the day. With more rain on the radar over the course of the Test, West Indies’ approach with the bat will be of intrigue to watch on Day 2.

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