BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC – Rahkeem Cornwall produced a typically attacking innings to rally the WICB President’s XI, and then a struck a key blow late in the day to peg back India, as honours were shared on the opening day of their three-day tour day game here yesterday.
The 23-year-old top-scored with 41 as the WICB President’s XI, opting to bat first at Warner Park, were dismissed for 180 in their first innings.
Test batsman Jermaine Blackwood found some form with 36 while opener John Campbell chipped in with 34.
Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja (3-16) and off-spinner Ravi Ashwin (3-62) both finished with three wickets apiece while leg-spinner Amit Misha claimed two for 45.In reply, India reached the close on 93 for three, with Lokesh Rahul unbeaten on 30. The visitors were cruising on 93 for two as Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara put on 59 for the third wicket.
But the right-handed Pujara played back and across to a full length delivery from Cornwall off what proved to be the day’s last delivery, and was bowled as India conceded some of the advantage.
Earlier, Shikhar Dhawan sliced a drive off fast bowler Jason Dawes to be caught at point for nine with the score on 34 and eight balls later in the next over with no runs added, his opener partner Murali Vijay edged a cut off an innocuous wide delivery from seamer Chemar Holder, to fall for 23.
Rahul then produced a breezy knock, hitting five fours and a six while Pujara faced 44 balls in just under an hour at the crease and struck two fours and a six.
When the hosts batted, they never found momentum and lost wickets steadily, slipping to 67 for three at lunch and 171 for eight at tea.
They lost captain Leon Johnson inside the first hour, caught at mid-on for three after miscuing a pull at rookie pacer Shardul Thakur with the score on 27.
Left-hander Campbell batted attractively, striking six fours in a knock coming off 64 balls before coming down to Ashwin, missing his drive and falling stumped at 49 for two.
And Shai Hope, who made a century against India last week at the same venue, failed to repeat those heroics when his loose drive off seamer Stuart Binny found Ashwin at cover.
Unbeaten on 12 at lunch, Blackwood was one five wickets to fall in the post-lunch session, after facing 63 deliveries and counting five fours.
Cornwall entered at 98 for five and took the attack to India, belting seven fours and a six off 56 balls, but perished just before tea – coming down to Ashwin and driving a catch to Pujara at mid-off.
Scoreboard
PRESIDENT’S XI 1st Innings
J Campbell st Saha b Ashwin 34
*L Johnson c Binny b Thakur 3
S Hope c Ashwin b Binny 11
J Blackwood b Jadeja 36
Vishaul Singh c Pujara b Jadeja 3
M Hodge lbw b Jadeja 6
R Cornwall c Pujara b Ashwin 41
+J Hamilton c Shami b Mishra 1
K Roach not out 11
J Dawes lbw b Mishra 18
G Motie c wkpr Saha b Ashwin 8
Extras (b4, lb2, nb2) 8
TOTAL (all out, 62.5 overs) 180
Did not bat: K Joseph, C Holder.
Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-49, 3-57, 4-81, 5-98, 6-119, 7-135, 8-143, 9-172, 10-180.
Bowling: Mohammed Shami 5-0-19-0, Thakur 10-1-24-1, Ashwin 19.5-5-62-3, Binny 5-3-8-1, Jadeja 13-9-16-3, Mishra 10-2-45-1.
INDIANS 1st Innings
M Vijay c wkp Hamilton b Holder 23
S Dhawan c Hope b Dawes 9
L Rahul not out 30
C Pujara b Cornwall 28
Extras (lb1, w1, nb1) 3
TOTAL (3 wkts, 25.3 overs) 93
To bat (from): *V Kohli, A Rahane, +W Saha, R Ashwin, R Jadeja, A Mishra, Mohammed Shami, S Binny, S Thakur.
Fall of wickets: 1-34, 2-34, 3-93.
Bowling: Roach 5-1-12-0, Joseph 4-1-21-0, Holder 5-2-8-1, Dawes 5-1-15-1, Cornwall 3.3-1-17-1, Motie 3-0-19-0.
Toss: President’s XI.
Players per side: 13 (11 batting, fielding)
Umpires: Gregory Brathwaite, Nigel Duguid.
