A match which had the potential to produce a win for either side at the start of the final day, ended in an exciting draw between West Indies "B" and India "A" at Kensington Oval on Monday.

At its conclusion, the young West Indians might have been the most disappointed for not completing a win that appeared to be theirs for the taking in their rescheduled first round Carib Beer Series match.

Needing nothing less than a victory to advance to the semifinals of the International Challenge, India, set 268 in a minimum of 58 overs, were staring defeat in the face at 165 for nine with another 18.1 overs available.

The West Indies Under-23s, however, were frustrated by a last-wicket stand between the No. 10 Tinu Yohannan and the No. 11 Avishkar Salvi, the pair surviving to add 40 runs to ensure India "A" avoided a third defeat in the tournament.

Along the way, there were two setbacks for the West Indies "B". They had to make do without the services of their leading bowler Jason Bennett who jarred his right index finger as he tumbled over while attempting to field a ball at long-off in the 43rd over.

There was also a brief stoppage for rain that accounted for the loss of one over.

In the end, Yohannan survived for anhour-and-a-quarter to make 15 off 45 balls, while Salvi negotiated 58 balls for his unbeaten 19.

West Indies "B", beaten four times this season and condemned to a bottom-of-the table finish, ended the tournament without a victory, but by avoiding defeat they were able to prevent India "A" from qualifying for the semifinals of the International Challenge.

Those matches will bring together Cup champions Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago at Kensington and Guyana and Jamaica in Berbice, starting today.

As was the case on the previous day, the final day was one in which fortunes shifted back and forth.

When the 20-year-old Bennett took two wickets in successive balls 18 minutes after tea to move his tally of wickets for the season to 30, India "A" were on an uncomfortable 99 for five.

But the match took another twist when left-handed Connor Williams and captain Ajay Ratra added 61 for the sixth wicket at a run-a-minute to revive the visitors' hopes of a second successive win.

Once the fluent Williams fell for 75 that included nine fours off 109 balls in two hours' batting, it was the start of a slump in which four wickets fell for nine runs after they had reached 160 for five.

Bennett took care of the India "A" middle-order after fellow fast bowler Andrew Richardson had accounted for in-form openers Akash Chopra and Gautam Gambhir.

Bennett, who has impressed several observers in his debut season, bowled well again to dismiss Ambati Rayudu lbw as he shuffled across his stumps.

He was surprisingly taken off after four overs, but when he was recalled, he claimed the scalps of Abhijit Kale and Jai Yadav for ducks.

Kale gave a catch to cover off the leading edge, while Yadav was bowled middle stump by a yorker.

India "A" started their run-chase a lot later than they anticipated after the West Indes "B", resuming on 115 for seven and a lead of 207, extended their second innings until the first over after lunch.

West Indies "B" lost Bennett 13 minutes after resumption, but Lorenzo Ingram, with the help of Rayon Thomas and Richards, frustrated the Indians for the entire pre-lunch session.