The first practice match at the batting friendly Warner Park in St. Kitts expectedly ended in a draw with India achieving their motive of getting considerable match practice. After three Indian batsmen made half-centuries on Day One and India declaring on 258, the visitors batted for 87 overs on Day Two and scored 281/7 with Shai Hope scoring an unbeaten 118 off 229 balls.
It was a thorough workout for Indian bowlers who last played a Test match in December at home against South Africa. With the extended T20 season this year, the bowling unit looked to get back into the rhythm of bowling long spells. It was evident when captain Virat Kohli gave each of his four quicks – Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma opening spells of five overs each.
Though India did introduce spin in the first session, it was only after 21 overs of play. The four quicks bowled a total of 60 over in the day while Amit Mishra (4/67), the lone spinner bowled 27 overs.
The new ball bowlers were right on target with both Bhuvneshwar and Shami troubling the rival batsmen in their first over. The home team’s camp endured anxious moments when Bhuvneshwar’s in swinger struck Chandrika in front, but he was declared safe on the first ball of the day. When Shami bowled his first over from the Media End, left-handed opening batsman and the team’s captain, Leon Johnson was trapped on the pads but like his partner he too survived.
While Chandrika made use of the opportunity and went on to score a half-century, Johnson struggled. In the seventh over of the day, Bhuvneshwar got the one to swing away and Johnson’s thick edge was caught smartly in the slips by Shikhar Dhawan, who had a very good day in the field.
One-drop Shai Hope joined Chandrika in the middle and the two put on their defensive cap. On a dry, sluggish wicket, the Indian bowlers bowled with intent. Bowling from the Southern End, Umesh was quick and made good use of the short ball. The Indians stuck to a line outside off and with swing on offer, captain Virat Kohli deployed a fourth slip. Bhuvneshwar was exceptional in the first session giving away just five runs from his six overs. After giving away seven runs in his first over, Ishant gave nothing away in his next four.
The home team batters looked to spend time on the wicket and went to Lunch at 67/1 in 27 overs. After a slow start to the second session, the two brought up their half centuries. Chandrika first got to his fifty in 117 balls with an on drive that almost went on the mid-on fielder and Hope soon got to his milestone in 120 balls. The two brought up the 100-run stand for the second wicket in 222 balls as the visitors tried hard for a wicket.
Just when the home team looked to inch ahead with run-scoring becoming easy, Chandrika got carried away and paid the price. Looking to clear the infield, the 26-year-old from Guyana danced down the track only to be stumped by Wriddhiman Saha in the 48th over. Jermaine Blackwood, the No.4 batsman then gave India another reason to rejoice as his ill-timed hoick off the first ball he faced landed straight into Saha’s gloves. With two wickets in the over, India hardly looked back.
Roston Chase (3), who survived Mishra’s hat-trick ball, was caught at mid-wicket by Ajinkya Rahane off Shami, and wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich (7) was trapped in the front by Umesh. The home team lost three wickets for as many runs as India ended the second session right on top.
Despite Hope waging a lone battle from one, the home team continued to lose wickets in the final session. Mishra was once again the destroyer picking two wickets in his two successive overs. Looking to bowl the opposition out on a flat wicket, Ishant showed he was getting ready for the first Test in Antigua with an aggressive spell late in the day. Jomel Warrican gave good company to Hope, who went on to get a century in 208 balls. The eight-wicket partnership of 104 runs between Hope and Warrican helped the home team avoid any embarrassment of getting bowled out on a wicket with no purchase for the bowlers.
Before they leave for Antigua, India will play a three-day practice game at the same venue on Thursday.
Brief Scores: Indians 258/6 (Rohit Sharma 54 not out, Shikhar Dhawan 51, KL Rahul 50, Jomel Warrican 2/61) drew with WICB President’s XI 281/7 (Shai Hope 118 not out, Rajendra Chandrika 69, Amit Mishra 4/67, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 1/29).
