1st A Test peters out to tame draw

On perhaps the most perfect day for cricket of the four for this "Test", India "A" batted slowly, but surely and soundly, to ensure that they did not go one down in this two "Test" series. At the end, the teams were somewhat even.

In the meantime, Jacob Martin also took the opportunity to show some of his stylish batsmanship.

Starting with a deficit of 9 on the last day, India "A moved from 54-1 to 115-2 at lunch, scored in 44 overs, in two hours of glorious sunshine. The lunch-time not out batsmen were Jacob Martin on a well made 63 and Jagdish Arun Kumar on 28.

The one wicket to fall before lunch was that of Gagan Khoda, who, after playing very cautiously for 17 previous deliveries, drove at the 18th he received, delivered by fast bowler Dwight Mais, in the fifth over of the day, the 23rd of the innings. The resulting edge was smartly held by Chris Gayle at second slip. India "A" in a spot of bother at 59-2, and the deficit still not completely erased.

Martin really played authoritatively, and seemed not to be bothered at all by any of the bowlers. He certainly looked a class above the rest of the Indian "A" batsmen as he stroked regular runs.

Martin and Arun Kumar moved things along nicely to 130-2, with Martin himself getting 50 and looking set to get the first "Test" century of this tour when he made his first mistake.

Martin drove at a wide half volley bowled by McLean. Although he did hit the ball very hard, he did not keep the ball along the ground. The ball ended up fast but straight into the hands of Wavell Hinds at cover point; India "A" 130-3 in over 51.

Martin was out for 75 which included a nice mixture of defense and aggression as he hit five 4's in his 225 minute stay at the crease.

Arun Kumar soon followed. He had had a great tussle with Lewis early in the morning, but the bowler was not successful. Arun Kumar seemed to be getting the better of the fight, as he hit Lewis for two consecutive 4's and a six in one over. Soon, though, the innings was over.

Mais had replaced the much improved McLean at the pavilion end and from the first ball, a loosener, Arun Kumar chopped the innocuous delivery onto his stumps to be bowled for a well made 48. That 48 included five 4's and one six. India "A" 155-4 in over 59.

Hrishikesh Kanitkar, the left handed batsman who is India "A"'s captain, who had come to the crease at the fall of Martin's wicket, then put on a good show of both controlled hitting and effective defense.

When it just seemed that the India "A" captain would see his team to tea, Chris Gayle was brought to the bowling attack. With the first ball of his second over, Kanitkar played inside of a straight delivery and got a thin edge to wicket-keeper Phillip. Kanitkar out for 30, India "A" 195-5 in over 68.

Tea was eventually taken with India "A" 197-5 with Kaif 16 not out and newcomer Sameer Dighe 0 not out.

These two continued merrily, and easily, after tea. West Indies "A" realized by then that it was not on to try to get a result, but did not want to just give batting practice either.

However, both batsmen played well and soon the 200 was up. The partnership had realized a brisk 43 runs when Dighe tried to drive leg-spinner Lewis through the off-side, only to see Gayle take a wonderful diving catch, to his left, at short extra-cover. Dighe had made 29 in 73 minutes at the crease facing 65 balls and hitting three 4's.

Kaif eventually got to his half century in the third of necessary overs in the final hour. His innings had only included one boundary. At the close, he was 54 not out with the other not out batsman being Sodhi with 19 not out. The West Indies "A" team bowlers shared the spoils.

When eleven of the compulsory fifteen overs of that last hour were completed, the umpires and players call it a day and a game, a tame draw.