Brathwaite hits ton as match peters into draw

Only a fiery spell by Zaheer Khan or a breathtaking innings by a West Indian batsman could have enlivened the second unofficial Test between India ‘A’ and West Indies ‘A.’

But none of it materialised as the match ended in a dreary draw here at the JNNCE grounds. Rain had threatened the match at various stages over the last three days. It became a reality on Saturday, forcing the officials to call off the proceedings at 3.30 pm, and West Indies were 223 for three at that time in their second innings, ahead by 270 runs.

Opener Kraigg Brathwaite made a well-crafted unbeaten hundred (104) for the visitors, who maintained their 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

There never was a realistic chance for an outright result on this pitch, which was as flat as a highway. But three players would have loved to return with better individual results. This match had always been about Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Zaheer Khan, who have been trying to force their way back into the national side.

Zaheer, who picked up two wickets in this game, has some reason to look back with relief. The veteran left-arm pacer was playing in his first competitive match since May early this year, and he managed to bowl 33 overs here without being in any obvious physical discomfort. The Mumbaikar would be eager to produce a much better effort at Hubli, venue for the third unofficial Test beginning on October 9.

The same can’t be said about the Delhi duo. Gambhir looked a tad scratchy, while Sehwag was dismissed just when he seemed to have gotten into his rhythm. The obduracy of West Indian batsmen also meant that both Sehwag and Gambhir wouldn’t get a chance to bat in the second innings here.

Talking about the determined approach of West Indian batsmen, there was none better than Brathwaite. An opener in the traditional mould, Brathwaite has already played nine Tests, and if his skipper Kirk Edwards is to be believed, the 20-year-old from Barbados is a 100-Test material.

For anyone who has seen his innings on the day, it was easy to understand why Edwards rated him so high. Zaheer ousted Kieran Powell after softening him up with a series of short-pitched deliveries and left-arm spinner Bhargav Bhatt, who grabbed seven wickets in first innings, gave marching orders to Edwards to reduce the visitors to 43 for two.

It wasn’t a massive opening, but there was enough quality in Indian ranks to cut open that creek. But Brathwaite in the company of Narsingh Deonarine stonewalled the Indian bowlers effortlessly. Of the two, Deonarine was more fluent and he took it upon himself the task of snatching back the initiative.

The 30-year-old from Guyana summoned all his experience to nullify the threat posed by Bhatt, and once their premier bowler in this match was negated India struggled to make an impact. Offie Parvez Rasool was thrifty in his ways, but on a benign pitch he lacked the bite or inventiveness to create chances.

Deonarine marched into 90s confidently, but Bhatt extracted some revenge by trapping his leg before for 93. Asad Fudadin spent 52 minutes in the middle for an unbeaten three without ever really looking to score, and his innings was a summary of the way the teams approached this match.