NORTH SOUND, Antigua – Miguel Cummins struck twice in the day’s final over, as West Indies “A” clawed their way back into the first “Test”, after India “A” had taken the upper hand.
Cummins removed Gowtham Krishnappa lbw for six to the second ball and then had Shahbaz Nadeem caught behind down the leg-side off the day’s final delivery, forcing India “A” to limp to the finish on 299 for eight on a rain-hit second day at the Vivian Richards Cricket Grounds.
Cummins followed a key strike from compatriot Chemar Holder in the previous over which removed top-scorer Shivam Dube for 71, as the visitors lost three wickets for seven runs in the day’s last 10 balls.
Cummins was the pick of the West Indies “A” bowler with 3-36 from 18 overs, off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall snared 2-51 from 13 overs and left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican claimed 2-69 from 30 overs.
West Indies “A” appeared to face a long, hard toil for wickets, after the Indians resumed from their overnight total of 70 for one.
But Cornwall and Warrican shared three wickets and in between Cummins scalped another to leave the visitors rocking on 168 for five in the first hour after lunch.
The home team, however, were unable to keep the pressure up and Dube combined with wicketkeeper/batsman Wriddihiman Saha, who was unbeaten on 61 at stumps, to help stabilise the visitors’ innings with a stand of 124 for the sixth wicket.
Recalled for a spell with the second new ball, Holder bowled Dube, whose innings contained seven fours and four sixes off 108 balls in a shade over two hours, before Cummins sliced through the tail.
SCOREBOARD
WEST INDIES “A” 1st Innings 228
INDIA “A” 1st Innings
(overnight 70 for one)
P. Panchal lbw b Warrican 49
E. Abhimanyu c Cornwall b Warrican 28
S. Gill c Blackwood b Cornwall 40
*H. Vihari c Holder b Cummins 31
S. Kona c Holder b Cornwall 0
+W. Saha not out 61
S. Dube b Holder 71
G. Krishnappa lbw b Cummins 6
S. Nadeem c wkpr Hamilton b Cummins 0
Extras (b4, lb5, w1, nb3) 13
TOTAL (8 wkts, 99 overs) 299
M. Markande, Siraj Mohammed to bat
Fall of wickets: 1-61, 2-104, 3-134, 4-134, 5-168, 6-292, 7-299, 8-299
Bowling: Cummins 20-6-36-3, Lewis 10-2-33-0, Holder 16-1-58-1, Warrican 30-9-69-2, Cornwall 13-3-51-2, Chase 10-0-43-0
Position: India “A” lead by 71 runs with two first innings wickets standing
Umpires: J. Blades, D. Butler
Match referee: V. Burnes
Reserve umpire: B. Joseph
Source: CMC/CWI Media
