Smith, Fletcher hit centuries as Windes A make strong reply

While Smith carved out a superb, unbeaten 131, Fletcher hit 123 to fire the Caribbean side to 332 in response to India A’s mammoth first innings total of 543 for eight.

Playing at the Whitgift School, the duo added 225 for the third wicket to keep India A’s seamers at bay and edge their side closer to safety.

The left-handed Smith stroked 15 fours in an innings that has required 224 balls while the right-handed Fletcher hit 20 fours off 253 balls.

Resuming from their overnight 12 for one, Fletcher and opener Omar Phillips carried the score to 54 before the first wicket fell.

The left-handed Phillips, who played two Tests last year, made 22 from 67 balls with four fours before he was bowled by 20-year-old seamer Jaskaran Singh.

West Indies A, who twice collapsed in the opening “Test” last week to lose by six wickets, then averted any such recurrence with a strong batting display by Smith and Fletcher.

Dangerous teenaged left-arm seamer Jaidev Unadkat, who claimed 13 wickets in the opening match, was successfully nullified as the two batsmen gathered runs readily.

It was Unadkat, however, who broke the stand late in the day when he finally removed Fletcher, as he finished with two for 62.

Again, there was no collapse as Smith and Kirk Edwards, who was unbeaten on 19, posted another 53 for the fourth wicket.