Ramdin's ton goes in vain, India A beat WI by 16 runs

Wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin's century went in vain as West Indies slumped to a 16-run loss against India A in their second and final warm-up 50-over match ahead of the five-match ODI series against India at the Wankhede Stadium here today.

Chasing an imposing target of 283, Ramdin smashed a run-a-ball century to rescue his side from a precarious 65 for 4, but the visitors could only manag 266 for nine in their stipulated 50 overs.

The wicket-keeper batsman's 102 helped his side inch closer to the target during which he struck 10 fours and three sixes.

Asked to bat second, the Caribbean side's batting woes continued as they lost both the openers Jermaine Blackwood and Leon Johnson inside the first eight overs. The two got out on identical score of seven off 12 balls.

Marlon Samuels, who scored 56 in the previous match, tried to attack the bowlers and struck three fours and a six in his knock of 24 off 33 balls. His cameo, however, came to an end when he was bowled by leg-spinner Karn Sharma in the 12th over.

Skipper Kieron Pollard scored just nine off 17 balls. He struck Sharma for a mammoth six but was back in the hut, when the leg-spinner shattered his stumps two balls later, leaving his side reeling at 65 for four after 16 overs.

It was then upto Ramdin and Darren Sammy to do the repair job, who both notched up a century and half-century each.

Ramdin and Sammy shared a 101-run stand for the fifth wicket before the later mistimed a shot and was caught by stumper Sanju Samson off Dhawal Kulkarni. Sammy's 67-ball 50-run knock comprised six fours and a six.

The 29-year old Ramdin, however, did not give up and continued the onslaught. He forged a 62-run stand with Jason Holder for the sixth wicket.

But it was not enough to guide the team till the end as he was back in the hut in the 45th over while going for a big shot. Ramdin was caught at deep square leg by Jasprit Bumrah off Karun Nair.

Holder held the fort with a brilliant 54 off just 42 balls but was caught off his own bowling by Bumrah in the last over while trying to chase the target. He struck three fours and two sixes.

Dhawal Kulkarni was the pick of the bowlers for India A with figures of three for 39, while Jasprit Bumrah and Karn Sharma bagged two wickets each.

Earlier, in-form Unmukt Chand smashed a fine century to guide India A to a competitive 282 against West Indies.

The Delhi lad continued his rich form and made a stroke filled 101 off 111 deliveries. His 192 minutes stay at the crease yielded eight fours and three sixes.

The visitors, however, wrested back the momentum with some good bowling towards the later stages of the innings by picking up quick wickets to restrict India A to 282, who looked on course to post a score in excess of 300.

Opting to bat, opener Murali Vijay looked in good touch and made a 22-ball 21. His innings was laced with four fours before he was caught behind while trying to slash a Jason Holder delivery.

Chand, who scored an unbeaten 79 in the previous match, looked a bit tentative initially but later on unleashed a flurry of boundaries.

He was ably supported by 22-year old Karun Nair and the duo stitched a 124-ball 149 run stand for the second wicket.

The two youngsters sent the bowlers on a leather hunt as they carted them all over the park.

Nair made 64 off 63 balls that was laced with four sixes and an equal number of fours. He was caught at backward point off Kemar Roach.

Skipper Manoj Tiwary stay's didn't last long as he departed for seven off 11 balls, comprising a six. He was caught behind off Taylor.

Talented wicket-keeper batsman Sanju Samson too could not contribute much and he was caught behind 22 runs later with India A scoreboard reading 202 for four. Samson scored five off 17 deliveries.

Chand capitalised on a reprieve given to him when he was on 94 to score the century. The 21-year old was dropped by Kemar Roach at short-fine leg off Ravi Rampaul. His knock ended when he was castled by a yorker from Taylor.

India A started losing wickets at regular intervals and couldn't forge meaningful partnerships towards the end.

Gurkeerat Singh Mann and Stuart Binny chipped with 20 and 15-run knocks respectively.
Taylor was the pick of the bowler for West Indies with three wickets for 51 runs, while Rampaul, Roach and Kieron Pollard grabbed two wickets a piece.

For the West Indies side, Lendl Simmons, who has a back problem was replaced by Jermaine Blackwood, while it was interesting to see coach Stuart Williams as a part of the playing XI in place of Darren Bravo.