India ‘A’ back in Carib game

BRIDGETOWN: India “A” struck back, after conceding first innings points to West Indies “B”, to put themselves in a favourable position to force a crucial win over West Indies “B” in their rescheduled Carib Beer 2003 Cup match yesterday.

At stumps India “A”, who need full points for a semi-final berth which would put them in next weekend’s Carib Beer International Challenge, reduced the regional under-23 team to 115 for seven in their second innings — an overall lead of 207 going into today’s final day. The Kensington Oval is still placid but the position of Shane Jeffers’ side was due to a combination of reckless strokes and testing bowling. Narsingh Deonarine has so far top-scored with 24. At the crease are Lorenzo Ingram on six and Jason Bennett, eight, the pair having hung around for 51 minutes in adding 26, after the Indians looked like running through the innings.

Medium-pacer Jai Yadav has three for 18 and leg-spinner Amit Mishra, two for 27. India “A” lost their last seven wickets for 82 runs in three-and-a-quarter hours off 44.2 overs to be all out for 296. Opener Gautam Gambhir top-scored with 108, while Barbadian fast bowler Bennett continued his impressive showing by grabbing five for 73 to push his tally of wickets for the season to 27 in six matches.