LEICESTER, England, CMC – Imran Khan, Gavin Tonge, and Lionel Baker indulged themselves, but they failed to save West Indies-A from defeat, when India-A won the opening four-day “Test” by six wickets yesterday at Grace Road.
Khan stuck seven fours in the top score of 62 from 95 balls in just under 2 ½ hours, and Tonge hit six fours and one six in 46 from 57 balls in a little under 1 ¼ hours, as Windies-A were dismissed for 257 in their second innings after lunch on the final day.
Windies-A were again undermined by left-arm fast bowler Jaidev Unadkat. He took six wickets for 62 runs from 27.5 overs to end with match figures of 13 for 103.
Baker, bowling second change, snared opposing captain Cheteshwar Pujara and Manoj Tiwary for 31 from 7.4 overs before Ajinkya Rahane struck him for the last of his four boundaries to formalise the result in the first hour after tea.
West Indies-A ran into early trouble, when they continued from their bedtime total of 125 for five, and Unadkat trapped Dave Bernard Jr. without addition to his overnight duck.
Khan came to the crease and dominated a stand of 39 for the seventh wicket with Edwards, but two wickets in the space of 24 balls wobbled Windies-A.
Edwards was caught for 13 off Iqbal Abdulla, who also trapped Andre Russell lbw for one to leave the Caribbean side 176 for eight.
But Khan and Tonge carried West Indies-A to 210 for eight at lunch, and outdid themselves in stand of 80 for the ninth wicket with some lusty hitting.
Khan was eventually lbw to Unadkat, who four balls later, bowled Tonge to bring the the Windies-A innings to a close.
Andre Russell made the breakthrough for Windies-A, when he bowled Shikhar Dhawan for 21, after giving India-A a solid start.
A smart bit of fielding from Kirk Edwards ran Abhinav Mukund out for 17 four balls later to leave India 40 for two.
Baker wobbled India-A, when he trapped Pujara lbw for 15, but Tiwary joined Rahane, and put the Indians firmly on course for victory with a stand of 42 before he was caught behind off the same bowler for 19 just before the end.
The second and final four-day “Test” between the two sides starts on Thursday at the Whitgift School in Croydon.
