India A bowlers strike in final session

Taking four wickets in the post tea session, India A fought their way back into the match on the opening day of the second and final `Test' match against West Indies A at Georgetown on Tuesday. By stumps the home team, after being 190 for four wickets, had slumped to 227 for eight.

The Indians started well by taking four wickets for 53 runs with opening bowler Sodhi and left arm spinner Karthik Murali taking two wickets each. West Indies A were 60 for four at lunch but in the second session, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Ryan Hinds initiated a recovery process. The two steadied the innings with a fifth wicket partnership of 137 runs in 205 minutes that lasted till well after the tea break. Then Hinds was bowled by left arm spinner S Sriram for 68. He faced 105 balls and hit ten of them to the ropes. At the same score of 190, captain Rawl Lewis was caught by Karthik off Sriram. Shortly afterwards former West Indies fast bowler Nixon McLean was caught by Jacob Martin off Sodhi for 8. Sarwan appeared set to bat till stumps when he was out to a bat-pad catch off Kurthik just before close. Sarwan batted 285 minutes, faced 255 balls and hit 12 fours and a six in his 89.

The bowling honours were shared by Sodhi who took three for 42 from 16 overs and Karthik who finished with three for 60 off 31 overs. The other two wickets were taken by Sriram at a cost of 21 runs off 13 overs.