Recent local news reports in Mysore mention about the measures being taken to ensure that tourists, especially from overseas, are treated well during the festive season. The same philosophy lingered at the Gangothri Glades Ground too as the West Indies ‘A’ team felt at home and posted a first innings score of 429 on Thursday.
The second day of the first game of the three-match series was all about the visitors setting a benchmark and India ‘A’ trying to stay afloat.
At close, the host mustered 124 for three which included the dismissal of a tentative skipper Cheteshwar Pujara, who pushed Miguel Cummins straight to Kieran Powell. The wound worsened when K.L. Rahul, essaying quaint drives at will, cut Nikita Miller to the slip.
The earlier dismissal of Jiwanjot Singh also rankled and it is now left to Manpreet Juneja and Harshad Khadiwale to seal the cracks.
Intense drama
Resuming at the overnight 264 for five in the morning, the West Indies ‘A’ batsmen encountered three deliveries of intense drama from Parvez Rasool (five for 116). Assad Fudadin survived two appeals for ‘caught behind’ and ‘LBW’ while Chadwick Walton just about escaped being run-out before succumbing to Ishwar Pandey.
Meanwhile, dropped on eight by Rasool, who failed to hold onto a tough chance, southpaw Fudadin (86 n.o.) gained authority.
The new-ball was taken after 99 overs but Fudadin discarded his dour veneer of the opening day.
A four past third-man off Mohammed Shami was a dexterous effort and along with Miller, Fudadin added 88 runs for the seventh-wicket while the Indians resigned themselves for a bout of introspection on a pitch that is becoming two-paced.
The scores:
West Indies ‘A’ — 1st innings: Kraigg Brathwaite c Motwani b Rasool 92 (215b, 12x4), Kieran Powell lbw b Shami 0 (5b), Kirk Edwards b Pandey 91 (162b, 11x4, 1x6), Narsingh Deonarine c & b Rasool 28 (44b, 2x4, 1x6), Assad Fudadin (not out) 86 (201b, 10x4, 1x6), Leon Johnson lbw b Paliwal 10 (21b, 2x4), Chadwick Walton lbw b Pandey 35 (41b, 4x4, 2x6), Nikita Miller run out 49 (86b, 5x4), Veerasammy Permaul c Pujara b Rasool 11 (21b, 2x4), Delorn Johnson c Shami b Rasool 0 (4b), Miguel Cummins lbw b Rasool 6 (15b, 1x4); Extras (b-7, lb-9, nb-5): 21; Total (in 135 overs): 429.
Fall of wickets: 1-3 (Powell), 2-175 (Edwards), 3-211 (Brathwaite), 4-223 (Deonarine), 5-237 (Leon Johnson), 6-276 (Walton), 7-364 (Miller), 8-406 (Permaul), 9-412 (Delorn Johnson).
India ‘A’ bowling: Mohammed Shami 21-2-75-1, Ishwar Pandey 27-7-69-2, Ashoke Dinda 25-2-80-0, Parvez Rasool 45-13-116-5, Rajat Paliwal 13-3-56-1, Harshad Khadiwale 4-0-17-0.
India ‘A’ — 1st innings: K.L. Rahul c Leon Johnson b Miller 46 (100b, 7x4), Jiwanjot Singh c Walton b Permaul 16 (39b, 1x4), Cheteshwar Pujara c Powell b Cummins 3 (9b), Manpreet Juneja (batting) 47 (77b, 7x4), Harshad Khadiwale (batting) 5 (36b); Extras (b-4, nb-3): 7; Total (for three wkts. in 43 overs): 124.
Fall of wickets: 1-45 (Jiwanjot), 2-49 (Pujara), 3-109 (Rahul).
West Indies ‘A’ bowling: Miguel Cummins 12-1-37-1, Delorn Johnson 9-3-28-0, Veerasammy Permaul 13-2-45-1, Nikita Miller 9-4-10-1.
