CROYDON, England, CMC – West Indies A were facing a tough task in saving the second four-day “Test” against India A after captain Cheteshwar Pujara crafted a superb unbeaten double century on the second day yesterday.
At the close at the Whitgift School, the Caribbean side were struggling on 12 for one in reply to India A’s massive 543 for eight declared.
Pujara, unbeaten on 111 overnight, converted his knock into 208 not out, stroking 34 fours and a six in an innings lasting 355 balls.
Wicketkeeper/batsman Wriddhiman Saha chipped in with 62 from 129 balls with eight fours while Jaskaran Singh cracked 58 from 90 balls with seven fours and two sixes.
Resuming the day at 329 for five, India pressed on to keep Windies A in the field for most of the day.
Jamaican fast bowler Andre Russell, who snatched five for 95, was their best bowler while fellow pacer Gavin Tonge finished with two for 114.
The 22-year-old Russell, who started the day with three wickets, accounted for the dangerous Saha to a catch at the wicket by Chadwick Walton.
West Indies A then had a horrific start, losing Kraigg Brathwaite cheaply for three with the score on 11, lbw to incisive teenaged left-arm seamer Jaidev Unadkat.
Scoreboard
INDIA A
(overnight 329 for five)
A Mukund c Brathwaite b Russell 39
S Dhawan c wkpr Walton b Tonge 43
A Rahane c Smith b Russell 13
*C Pujara not out 208
M Pandey c Khan b Russell 36
M Tiwary c Smith b Tonge 36
+W Saha c wkpr Walton b Russell 62
Iqbal Abdulla c Khan b Russell 12
Jaskaran Singh c wkpr Walton b Bernard 58
D Kulkarni not out 2
Extras (b16, lb2, w7, nb9) 34
TOTAL (8 wkts dec; 147 overs) 543
Did not bat: J Unadkat.
Fall of wickets: 1-69 (Mukund), 2-100 (Dhawan), 3-102 (Rahane), 4-191 (Pandey), 5-237 (Tiwary) – remaining wickets not available.
Bowling: Bernard 33-5-102-1, Tonge 30-8-114-2, Russell 31-8-97-5, Baker 21-2-57-0, Khan 27-1-136-0, Fletcher 5-0-19-0.
WEST INDIES A 1st innings
K Brathwaite lbw b Unadkat 3
O Phillips not out 9
A Fletcher not out 0
TOTAL (1 wkt, 7 overs) 12
To bat: *D Smith, K Edwards, +C Walton, D Bernard, G Tonge, A Russell, L Baker, I Khan
Fall of wickets: 1-11 (Brathwaite)
Bowling: Kulkarni 4-1-8-0, Unadkat 3-2-4-1.
Position: West Indies A trail by 531 runs.
Umpires: Martin Bodenham, Richard Illingworth
