John Campbell becomes 1st WI opener to score 100 in India after 23 years, vs India in 19 years

With his 115-run knock, John Campbell became the first West Indies opener to score a hundred against India after 23 years

West Indies cricket team opener John Campbell created history on Monday by breaching the triple-figure mark in the IND vs WI 2nd Test in New Delhi. The batter became the first opener for the country to slam a century against India in 19 years, the last being Darren Ganga in 2006. Walking out to bat on Day 3, Campbell frustrated the Indian bowlers for multiple sessions until Ravindra Jadeja finally managed to get rid of him in the 64th over on Day 4.

Campbell etches name in Test history vs India

Campbell finished with 119 runs to his name from 199 deliveries, striking 12 fours and three sixes. The West Indies opener reached his century by launching a massive six, marking the first time he reached the triple-figure mark in Tests. Not only did he become the first West Indies opener to slam a century against India in 19 years, he also is the first among his countrymen to slam a 100 in India after 23 years. It took Campbell 48 innings to reach his maiden Test hundred. He also joined the legendary Sir Viv Richards on the list of batters to score their maiden Test ton in Delhi.

Campbell was given a standing ovation from the West Indies dressing room on reaching his maiden hundred, with head coach Darren Sammy leading the pack. His dismissal was no less than dramatic, as Jadeja and his teammates had to literally plead with umpire Paul Paul Reiffel before the official raised his hand. Although Campbell, for whom the decisions had gone his way quite a number of time previously, took a review, the ball tracking showed the delivery going to crash into the stumps, giving India the much-needed breakthrough.

However the damage was already done, as the 177-run partnership between Campbell and Hope had propelled West Indies to almost taking a lead, which eventually happened.