Windies ‘A’ crush India to level series
KINGSTOWN, St Vincent (CMC) — West Indies ‘A’ needed just an hour and eight minutes on the final day to steamroll India ‘A’s high-touted batting line-up and record a massive victory in the second unofficial Test here yesterday.
The hosts claimed the last six wickets for 37 runs as India ‘A’, resuming the day on 57-4 in pursuit of 220 for victory, were bundled out for a paltry 94 runs to give the home side an impressive victory by 125 runs on an action-packed morning at Arnos Vale
Left-arm fast bowler Delorn Johnson, who bowled with great pace and bounce, took two wickets in the morning to end with a career-best 6-34 off 17 overs.
Left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul took 4-22, all four wickets coming on the final morning, as the experienced Indians looked at sea.
Permaul, who took 5-58 in the first innings, ended with nine wickets in the match. He also made a vital 36 at No 9 in the West Indies first innings to earn the Man-of-the-Match award.
Johnson, playing on his home ground with family cheering him on, ended with eight wickets in the match, following his first innings burst of 2-28.
Permaul started the day from the Caribbean Sea End at the south and gave the West Indies the perfect start when he bowled Rohit Sharma for 13 in the day’s third over with a ball that crept.
Two balls later he flummoxed Wriddhiman Saha with a clever arm-ball and won an lbw verdict to send the batsman on his way without scoring.
Shortly thereafter, Johnson produced a superb out-swinger from around the wicket which Rahul Sharma (3) edged to the wicket-keeper Deveon Thomas.
Johnson them used the short ball against Shami Ahmed to good effect. The tail-ender required treatment for a blow on the left hand and later was struck on the body by another quick lifter.
Johnson then produced another bouncer which Ahmed (2) fended to give Thomas his fifth catch of the match.
With the Indians retreating, the end was not far away and it came with little drama. Permaul took the final wicket when Akshay Dareka missed a wild swipe at a flighted delivery and was bowled for eight.
The two teams travel to St Lucia for the third and final unofficial Test at Beausejour Cricket Gorund, which starts on Saturday.
