Brooks, Cornwall put WI on top

A maiden Test century by Shamarh Brooks and wily spin bowling put the West Indies in firm command of the one-off Test against Afghanistan on Thursday.

Brooks made 111 as West Indies managed a lead of 90 after they were 277 all out in the second session of day two in the northern Indian city of Lucknow, which has been hit by heavy air pollution over the past month.

Spinners Rakheem Cornwall and Roston Chase then took three wickets each to leave Afghanistan tottering at 109 for seven at stumps on day two. The Afghans lead by just 19 runs in their second innings.

Opener Javed Ahmadi made 62 before falling to Chase’s off spin on the final delivery of the day dominated by West Indies, who resumed on 68 for two in response to Afghanistan’s 187.

Cornwall rattled the Afghanistan top-order and improved his match haul to 10 so far.

The 26-year-old Cornwall, who returned figures of 7-75 with his off spin on day one, struck in three successive overs.

SCORES IN BRIEF

AFGHANISTAN: First innings 187

WEST INDIES: First innings 277 all out (Campbell 55, Brooks 111, Dowrich  42; Amir 5-74, Rashid 3-114, Zahir 2-53)

AFGHANISTAN: Second innings 109 for 7 (Ibrahim 23, Javed Ahmadi 62; Cornwall 3-41, Chase 3-10)