The hosts have struck and how!
Pacer Delorn Johnson took a career-best six for 34 while skipper Veerasammy Permaul gobbled up the rest as West Indies ‘A’ condemned their much-fancied Indian opponents to a humiliating 125-run loss on the fourth and final day of the second ‘unofficial’ Test in St Vincent on Tuesday.
India ‘A’, who began the day on 57 for four (needing 163), lost six wickets for just 37 runs to finish with 94 on a turner at the Arnos Vale Ground. Left-arm spinner Permaul followed up his five-wicket haul in the first innings with four for 22 in the second innings to finish with superb figures of nine for 80. Johnson, who had picked up two in the first innings, finished with eight for 62. In other words, the duo accounted for as many as 17 wickets. India had lost Abhinav Mukund, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane and skipper Cheteshwar Pujara on Monday itself.
Rohit Sharma (13) was the first to go on Tuesday, the right-hander falling to a ‘ground eater’ from Permaul. New man Wriddhiman Saha could not keep statemate Manoj Tiwary company for too long, the wicketkeeper-batsman falling for a duck. It was an arm ball from Permaul that did the Bengal player in.
At 63 for six, India needed a Pujara-like effort, but Tiwary and the tail failed to inspire. Johnson, who had picked up four wickets on Day Three, returned to clean up the tail. Maharashtra left-arm spinner Akshay Darekar had registered a six-wicket haul on Monday. The third and final ‘Test’ will be played in St Lucia from Saturday. India ‘A’ had won the first ‘Test’ in Barbados.
Brief scores: WI ‘A’ 217 & 204 (D Thomas 74, D Pagon 67; A Darekar 6/67) beat India ‘A’ 202 & 94 (D Johnson 6/34, V Permaul 4/22) by 125 runs
