Quick strikes put Windies A on top

Patience is a virtue which pays off, and the second day of the first four-day game between India A and West Indies A more than proved that. At the Gangotri Glades here on Thursday, the Caribbean side pushed their total to a formidable 429 before folding up on a wicket which turned double-paced and returned to peg back the Indian charge. Kirk Edwards’ men then sent back the top order in the final session to leave the home side precariously placed at 124/3 at the close. Manpreet Juneja (47 n.o.) was holding fort with Harsh Khadiwale for company with the hosts still 305 runs in arrears. In the morning, the start looked promising for the Indians opened the proceedings with offie Parvez Rasool, who picked up a five-for, and the eventful first over saw two close leg before appeals off successive deliveries followed by a near run-out thanks to Juneja’s sharp reflexes. But with night watchman Chandwick Walton dispatching the last ball for a six over mid-off the crowd fell silent. India A were soon rewarded with a wicket with Walton being trapped leg before by Ishwar Pandey after adding nine to his overnight 26. At the other end, Assad Fudadin struggled to tide over his first day lethargy (4 off 65) and was offered a lifeline by Rasool who could have effected a caught and bowled. The new ball taken with West Indies A at 296/6 but did not change much. After slogging the whole morning, India A finally got a break through off the last delivery before lunch, when a miscommunication between the batsmen resulted in Miller’s (49) run out effected by a combined effort from Pujara and keeper Rohit Motwani, bring to close a fruitful 88-run sixth wicket stand. Post lunch, the 28-year-old Fudadin from Guyana shrugged off his slow-coach approach and stepped up the pace, but soon ran out of partners at the other end to remain unconquered with 86. The Indian openers got off to a good start with local lad K.L. Rahul opening with Jiwanjot Singh (16), but their 45-run stand came to an end, when the latter edged a Veerasammy Permaul delivery to wicketkeeper Walton. This brought in skipper Pujara to the crease amidst wild cheers, but that was short-lived as the Rajkot batsman drove uppishly to Kieran Powell at short covers off Miguel Cummins. Rahul and Juneja then treated the spectators to some neat drives and cuts all around the park. Just when the Indian ship appeared to have steadied, Miller struck with Rahul being snapped up in the slips by Leon Johnson. Juneja was joined by Harshad Khadiwale and the duo saw India through the next 12 overs without any casualty but it was a day which belonged to the visitors. SCOREBOARD

West Indies A (o/n 264/5): A. Fudadin (n.o) 86, C. Walton lbw I. Pandey 35, N. Miller run out (Pujara/Motwani) 49, V. Permaul 11, D. Johnson c M. Shami b Rasool 0, M. Cummins lbw Rasool 6. Extras 21 (7b, 9 lb, 5nb) Total: 429 (in 135 overs) FoW: 6-276, 7-364, 8-406, 9-412, 10-429. Bowling: M. Shami 21-2-75-1; I. Pandey 27-7-16-2; A. Dinda 25-2-80-0; P. Rasool 45-13-116-5; R. Paliwal 13-3-56-1; H. Khadiwale 4-0-17-0. India A: K.L Rahul c. L. Johnson b N. Miller 46, J. Singh c C. Walton b V. Permaul 16, C. Pujara c Powell b M. Cummins 3, M. Juneja (batting) 47, H. Khadiwale (batting) 5, Extras 7 (4b, 3 nb) Total (for 3 wkts, in 43 overs) 124 FoW: 1-45, 2-49, 3-109 Bowling: M. Cummins 12- 1- 37- 1; D. Johnson 9-3-28-0; V. Permaul 13-2-45-1; N. Miller 9-4-10-1.