Mon Oct 13 ’25
Prior to Monday’s Day 3 of the second match against India in Delhi, West Indies had not batted 90 overs in seven Tests. Also this year they did not have a centurion in the format. However, a 177-run third-wicket partnership between John Campbell and Shai Hope helped the Caribbean side occupy the crease with 118.5 overs in their second innings.
Both batsmen scored tons in the process, and the idea was simple enough, according to Campbell. “Shai and I just wanted to bat as long as we could,” he said. “That was always the plan.” On one pitch, players from both teams agreed it was good to bat, the pair staying together for 49.1 overs.
“The hardest thing there is [this] wicket is [get a] start. So we wanted to fight hard to start, and when we got it, we tried to go as deep as we could.” Despite a potentially match-defining spell that saw the visitors lose 6 wickets for 40 runs, they still managed to erase the 97-run deficit they started the day with.
West Indies even set India a target while being dismissed for 390, thanks in part to a 79-run tenth-wicket stand between Justin Greaves, who scored an unbeaten fifty, and Jayden Seales (32). An impressive performance against a bowling unit led by Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav, regardless of the conditions.
Now, despite Hope’s well-documented struggles against the red ball, Campbell credited the Barbadian’s performances at the top level for keeping him in the moment during the strike. “He has a lot of international experience,” said the Jamaican. “He has a very cool and calm head. We both had great conversations and shared information with each other, and I think that helped us through the collaboration.”
West Indies will be hoping for a miraculous bowling performance as the hosts resume the final day at 63 for 1, chasing 121 for victory.
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