After a thumping win in the opening one-dayer against West Indies A, India A skipper Yuvraj Singh had termed the Caribbean bowlers a ‘complete international attack’.
Having shown sparks of brilliance in that encounter, the formidable touring party’s pace attack, led by Miguel Cummins (4/31) recorded a comprehensive 55-run win over Yuvraj’s men to level the series in the second encounter, here on Tuesday.
On a day when India A batsmen failed to convert their 30s into big knocks and Yusuf Pathan was sent packing in one ball, India, chasing a competitive 279/6, folded up for 224.
While Cummins excelled with the ball, it was Jonathan Carter who turned out to be the hero on the day with his all-round show (133, 2/33).
Backed by a crowd of over 5,000, Yuvraj was again the pick of the home team batters as he played a patient 58-ball 40, before being caught at extra cover by Kieran Powell off Nikita Miller. Pathan departed the next ball leaving India A reeling.
Opener Uthappa failed again, while Unmukt Chand struggled to a sloppy 38 (72 balls). Kedhar Jadhav (35) and Naman Ojha (34) did try to restructure the team’s fortunes, but both fell to Cummins’ pace.
Earlier, the visitors took the challenge to the opposition bowlers as Carter justified his call-up for the game with a well-timed century. With India electing to field, the start was great. Two consecutive maiden overs and local lad R. Vinay Kumar’s rousing beginning, plucking out the openers with just 21 on the board, well, the hosts could not have asked for a better start.
First to go was skipper Powell who went for the pull shot and was caught behind by wicketkeeper Naman Ojha. Vinay who finished his quota of 10 overs with 3/56 bowled a tight line and length. The efforts paid off as Andre Fletcher turned out to be his next victim.
The 25-year-old Carter then took over. With the pitch offering little movement, the left-hander played a mature innings, fully aware of the fact that an extended innings from him could lift his team’s run rate. Coming on to the crease in the ninth over, he stayed put till the 49th over.
An awfully slow start not withstanding, Carter was offered a lifeline with his score at six, when he was dropped by Pathan off Shabhaz Nadeem in the slips.
The Barbados player cashed in on the opportunity that came his way as he upped the scoring, picking Jaydev Unadkat and then Vinay as his preferred bowlers, hitting the ropes on 18 occasions and sending three over it in his 133.
His innings which also marked his maiden century in A list matches, was ended by Unadkat when he went for a slog, missed it and was trapped leg before.
Scorecard
West Indies A: A. Fletcher c Ojha b Vinay Kumar 15, K. Powell c Ojha b Vinay Kumar 4, K. Edwards st Ojha b Pathan 36, J. Carter lbw b Unadkat 133, A. Russell c Narwal b Pathan 12, L. Johnson c Chand b Vinay Kumar 39, D. Thomas (not out) 13, A. Nurse (not out) 12. Extras (lb 8, w 7) 15, Total (for 6 wkts; in 50 overs) 279.
FoW: 1-20, 2-21, 3-100, 4-112, 5-243, 6-260.
Bowling: Unadkat 10-1-57-1, Narwal 10-2-52-0, Vinay Kumar 10-1-56-3, Nadeem 10-0-38-0, Pathan 9-0-61-2, Mandeep 1-0-7-0.
India A: R. Uthappa b Carter 10, U. Chand c Fletcher b Nurse 38, Mandeep Singh c Thomas b Cummins 3, Yuvraj Singh c Powell b Miller 40, K. Jadhav c Thomas b Cummins 35, Y. Pathan c Nurse b Miller 0, N. Ojha b Cummins 34, S. Narwal c Thomas b Russell 18, Vinay Kumar b Cummins 1, S. Nadeem (not out) 21, J. Unadkat c Permaul b Carter 15. Extras (lb 1, w 6, nb 2) 9, Total (in 48.4 overs) 224.
FoW: 1-15, 2-18, 3-82, 4-114, 5-114, 6-148, 7-177, 8-187, 9-187.
Bowling: Cummins 10-0-31-4, Russell 10-0-56-1, Carter 6.4-0-33-2, Nurse 8-0-32-1, Permaul 5-0-25-0, Miller 9-1-46-2.