Campbell, Hope produce bright spark for West Indies

NEW DELHI, India:

West Indies' spinner Khary Pierre commended the regional team for winning a session as Jamaican opener John Campbell and middle-order batsman Shai Hope led a fightback on the third day of the second and final cricket Test match against India on Sunday.

"This is the first time we have been able to win a session in the two Tests. It's all about application," West Indies spinner Khary Pierre told reporters at the end of Sunday's play.

Campbell put up a career-best 87 not out on Sunday as West Indies battled on in their second innings of the second Test against India, despite the hosts enforcing a follow-on.

Campbell's previous Test best was 68 against New Zealand in 2020, and on a slow-turning pitch at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, he came up with a timely knock to keep the Indian attack at bay.

It was West Indies' best batting performance of the series -- a wicket-less session for the first time in two Tests -- and reached 173-2 (49 overs) at stumps.

"The wicket is going to deteriorate more so the more runs we could pile on, it could be a challenge for the Indian batsmen," he said.

"I think the two batsmen have laid the platform for us," West Indies spinner Khary Pierre told reporters.

Campbell faced 145 deliveries, while Shai Hope reached 66 not out. The duo put on 138 off 207 balls for the unbeaten third-wicket partnership, West Indies' highest partnership for any wicket in seven Tests in 2025.

West Indies still trail by 97 runs after they were bowled out for 248 runs (81.5 overs) in the first innings.

India had scored 518-5 in its first innings with Yashasvi Jaiswal scoring 175, while skipper Shubman Gill was unbeaten on 129.

Kuldeep Yadav took 5-82 in 26.5 overs as the hosts gained a first-innings lead of 270 runs.

"We started the day well, but the wicket is really good to bat on. There isn't much pace off the surface, so we just tried to hit our lengths. The first innings was brilliant (for me), but they batted really well in the second innings," Yadav said after the close of play.

India enforced the follow-on despite batting-friendly conditions and the wicket offering slow turn. It showed with Jasprit Bumrah not coming on to bowl until the 33rd over of the second innings.

Mohammed Siraj had Tagenarine Chanderpual caught for 10, a fine diving catch by skipper Gill, and then Washington Sundar bowled Alick Athanaze (7) at the stroke of tea with West Indies 35-2.

The final session saw fine resistance from the unbeaten duo as Campbell defied the bowlers with stoic defence mixed with aggression on loose deliveries.

Hope, who also batted well in the first innings, carried on his form as he hit a first half-century in 32 Test innings. He hit eight fours and two sixes in all, reaching 50 off 80 balls.

SPOTLIGHT

It was Campbell who stole the limelight, however, as he notched up West Indies' first half-century of the series off 69 balls, and then reached his personal best. He hit nine fours and two sixes, with Indian bowlers looking tired towards the end.

Their 100-run partnership came off 149 balls, the first for West Indies in four innings in this two-Test series.

"It may be a good thing to be challenged," said India's assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate, who defended India's decision to enforce the follow-on.

"Getting probably 130 overs in already, that's a good test in the legs. We're going to get sturdier Tests in the future where you do have to field for a day-and-a-half," he told reporters.

"We thought the wicket's going to keep deteriorating but it just seems to slow down even more," the former Dutch player said.

"We have found it tricky this afternoon and Shai Hope and John Campbell batted beautifully."

India are 1-0 up in the series, after they won the first Test in Ahmedabad by an innings and 140 runs.

West Indies have not beaten India in their last 26 Tests -- home or away -- dating to 2002.

- AP