TAROUBA, Trinidad – Chemar Holder upstaged a hat-trick from off-spinner Krishnappa Gowtham with a destructive opening burst, bringing to life a rain-hit day to leave the third “Test” between West Indies “A” and India “A” intriguingly poised.
Holder claimed 2-14 in a fiery, four-over, opening spell, as India “A” stumbled to the close on the second day of the contest at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, on 23 for three – an overall lead of just 30 runs.
Holder, the former West Indies Under-19 World Cup-winning fast bowler, trapped both openers Priyank Panchal and Abhimanyu Esawaran lbw for three and six respectively.
Four balls later in the next over, Miguel Cummins bowled Mayank Agarwal for five, extracting his off-stump in spectacular fashion.
Earlier, West Indies “A” were bowled out for 194, replying to the Indians’ first innings total of 201.
Left-handed opener Jeremy Solozano snatched his share of the headlines when carried his bat for an unbeaten 69, as Gowtham ripped the heart out of the Caribbean side’s batting with 6-67 from 23.4 overs, including hat-trick victims Raymon Reifer for five, Holder and Cummins for ducks.
Sunil Ambris made 43 and Jermaine Blackwood added 22 to help West Indies “A” to a respectable total, but Umesh Yadav took 2-29 from 16 overs and supported Gowtham with the dismantling of the home team’s batting.
Source: CMC/CWI Media
