COOLIDGE, Antigua – Kavem Hodge showed class and poise in a solid half-century, but India’s bowlers needed just under two sessions to bowl West Indies out in their Tour Match here.
Unexpectedly opening the batting, the 26-year-old Windward Islands Volcanoes batsman literally rose to the occasion with a polished top score of 51, as the “A” Team were bowled out for 181 about five minutes before tea, in reply to India’s first innings total of 297 for five declared, on the second day of the three-day match at the Coolidge Cricket Ground.
When stumps were drawn, India were 84 for one in their second innings with Hanuma Vihari not out on 48 and acting captain Ajinkya Rahane not out on 20, an overall lead of 200, as the visitors chose to have valuable time in the middle.
Guyana Jaguars pacer Romario Shepherd earned the home team and early breakthrough, when he had opener Mayank Agarwal caught behind for 13.
Earlier, Hodge, who hails from the Nature Island of Dominca and has been pursuing academic studies at the Cave Hill campus of the University of the West Indies in Barbados, batted with aplomb throughout his 141 minutes at the crease in which he faced 100 balls and struck eight boundaries.
He showed good judgement, leaving the ball well outside off-stump, and struck the ball crisply, his pulls and hook shots reminiscent of West Indian batsmen of yore before he was trapped lbw playing back and across to full pitch delivery from beanpole pacer Ishant Sharma in the first half-hour after lunch.
A few other “A” Team batsmen got starts without carrying on – their captain Jahmar Hamilton made 33 and left-hander Jonathan Carter got 26, but no others passed 20, as India’s bowlers, led by Umesh Yadav, whose 3-19 from 10 overs made him the pick of the pack, brought their combined skill and experience to bear.
India’s bowlers may have gained some confidence from rolling over the “A” Team, but they may probably have relished a few more miles in the legs to get them sharper for this week’s bow into the World Test Championship against Jason Holder and the #MenInMaroon in the first MyTeam11 Test, co-sponsored by Skoda and KEI, starting on Thursday at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground here.
SCOREBOARD
INDIA 1st Innings 297 for five declared
WEST INDIES “A”
J. Solozano c Rahul b I. Sharma 9
K. Hodge lbw b I. Sharma 51
B. King c wkpr Pant b I. Sharma 4
D.M. Bravo c Rahul b U. Yadav 11
J. Mohammed run out 6
J. Carter c Agarwal b K. Yadav 26
*+J. Hamilton c U. Yadav b K. Yadav 33
R. Powell c Pujara b U. Yadav 16
R. Shepherd c Rahane b U. Yadav 1
K. Pierre b K. Yadav 17
K. Harding not out 4
Extras(w1, nb2) 3
TOTAL (all out, 56.1 overs) 181
Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-30, 3-51, 4-77, 5-94, 6-115, 7-136, 8-140, 9-164
Bowling: I. Sharma 8-1-21-3 (w1); Bumrah 11-0-45-0 (nb2); U. Yadav 10-4-19-3; Saini 6-0-20-0; Jadeja 12-2-41-0; K. Yadav 9.1-1-35-3
INDIA 2nd Innings
M. Agarwal c wkpr Hamilton b Shepherd 13
A. Rahane not out 20
H. Vihari not out 48
Extras(lb2, nb1) 3
TOTAL (1 wkt, 35 overs) 84
Fall of wickets: 1-22
Bowling: Mindley 4-2-8-0; Harding 5-0-15-0 (nb1); Shepherd 9-6-22-0; Carter 5-2-3-1; Pierre 7-1-26-0; Hodge 4-1-7-0; Mohammed 1-0-1-0
Position: India lead by 200 runs with nine second innings wickets standing
Players-a-side: 16 (11 bat, 11 field)
Umpires: G. Brathwaite, L. Reifer, Jr
Reserve umpire: B. Joseph
Source: CWI Media
