NORTH SOUND, Antigua – West Indies “A” captain Shamarh Brooks hit a purposeful half-century, but an inexplicable batting collapse saw his side squander a strong position and leave India “A” with a straightforward path to victory in the first “Test”.

Cruising at 130 for two in their second innings after having erased a first innings deficit of 84, West Indies “A” stunningly lost their last eight wickets for 50 to be all out for 180 on the third day at the Vivian Richard Cricket Ground.

Home team captain Shamarh Brooks led the way with 53, Montcin Hodge scored 36, Roston Chase made 32 and Jermaine Blackwood added 25, but left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem undermined the innings with 5-47 from 21 overs and Siraj Mohammed supported with 3-38 from 19 overs.

Rahkeem Cornwall made an early strike for West Indies “A”, removing Priyank Panchal for five, as the Indians reached 29 for one in their second innings, chasing 97 for victory and a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

The hosts had earlier taken the last two India “A” wickets for 13 to wrap up the visitors’ first innings for 312, with wicketkeeper/batsman Wriddhiman Saha adding five to his overnight 61 before he was last out.

Fast bowler Miguel Cummins picked up one of the two wickets to fall, finishing with 4-40 from 22.3 overs.

Catch the match highlights below!

SCOREBOARD

WEST INDIES A 1st Innings 228

INDIA A 1st Innings

(overnight 299 for eight)

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 lbw b Cummins 66

S Dube b Holder 71

G Krishnappa lbw b Cummins 6

S Nadeem c wkpr Hamilton b Cummins 0

M Markande c wkpr Hamilton b Holder 8

Siraj Mohammed not out 0

Extras (b4, lb5, w1, nb3) 13

TOTAL (all out, 104.3 overs) 312

Fall of wickets: 1-61, 2-104, 3-134, 4-134, 5-168, 6-292, 7-299, 8-299, 9-312, 10-312.

Bowling: Cummins 22.3-6-40-4, Lewis 10-2-33-0, Holder 19-1-67-2, Warrican 30-9-69-2, Cornwall 13-3-51-2, Chase 10-0-43-0.

WEST INDIES 2nd Innings

M Hodge c Vihari b Nadeem 36

J Solozano c Vihari b Nadeem 11

*S Brooks c wkpr Saha b Nadeem 53

R Chase c wkpr Saha b Dube 32

J Blackwood c Vihari b Siraj Mohammed 25

+J Hamilton c Vihari b Nadeem 0

R Cornwall c Gill b Siraj Mohammed 0

J Warrican c Panchal b Siraj Mohammed 11

C Holder lbw b Nadeem 4

M Cummins not out 0

S Lewis did not bat

Extras (b4, lb1, w3) 8

TOTAL (all out, 77 overs) 180

Fall of wickets: 1-44, 2-51, 3-130, 4-159, 5-163, 6-163, 7-163, 8-174, 9-180, 10-180.

Bowling: Siraj Mohammed 19-6-38-3, Dube 14-2-40-1, Krishnappa 16-8-32-0, Nadeem 21-7-47-5, Markande 7-1-18-0.

INDIA A 2nd Innings (target 96 runs)

P Panchal c Brooks b Cornwall 5

A Easwaran not out 23

Extras (nb1) 1

TOTAL (1 wkt, 10.3 overs) 29

Fall of wicket: 1-29.

Bowling: Cummins 3-1-9-0, Holder 5-1-19-0, Cornwall 2.3-1-1-1.

Position: India “A” need 68 more to win with nine second innings wickets standing

Umpires: J Blades, D Butler

Match referee: V Burnes

Reserve umpire: B Joseph

Source: CMC/CWI Media