WI A v Ind A – 2nd Test, Day 1
First Published : 11 Jun 2012, 10:53
Last Modified : 11 Jun 2012, 10:53
Mumbai, June 10: A disciplined bowling effort from the India A bowlers ensured that the hosts began the second Test in Kingstown, St Vincent on a cautious note. After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Windies were put under pressure early on. Shami Ahmed dismissed Justin Guillen (7) to peg the hosts back right from the outset. New man Donovan Pagon and Kraigg Brathwaite tried to stitch a telling partnership, but Rahul Sharma rattled the stumps as Pagon (11) tried to hit over the top. The hosts struggled their way to 63 for 2 at Lunch.
Nkrumah Bonner and Brathwaite were slowly finding their feet, but a reckless charge down the wicket from Bonner (25) gave left-arm spinner Akshay Darekar his first wicket of the match. The 48-run partnership was broken after Wriddhiman Saha stumped the right-hander.
Jonathan Carter tried to put the pressure back on the visitors but Rohit Sharma continued his good form with the ball by dismissing the attacking left-hander for 19 with WI on 99 for 4. The Indians struck another blow just before tea with Ashok Dinda getting the better of Kyle Corbin (13). The 22-year-old went for the pull but only managed to hit it straight to Ajinkya Rahane at square leg. The Windies needed a partnership with Brathwaite holding up one end well. Devon Thomas (5) was the new man in the middle before he could settle down, he was adjudged LBW off a Rohit Sharma delivery. Amongst the ruins Brathwaite stood tall, slowly carving out a crucial fifty with a classy boundary off Sharma.
Jason Holder provided support from the other end with an attacking display to push the Windies past the 150-run mark. The joy didn’t last long as Ahmed induced an edge to send Holder packing after making 20. Veerasammy Permaul came into the middle with the score on 164 for 7. Instead of seeing out the day, the Windies skipper took an attacking approach. His quickfire 36 off 40 balls gave the hosts some momentum. It didn’t last long as Dinda made sure Permaul didn’t do any more damage. The hosts ended the day on 212 for 8 with Brathwaite still going strong on unbeaten 66.
