da casino： 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 theydid not go one down in this two “Test” series
da betway： Colin Croft22-Nov-1999On perhaps the most perfect day for cricket of the four for this “Test”, India”A” batted slowly, but surely and soundly, to ensure that theydid not go one down in this two “Test” series. At the end, theteams were somewhat even.In the meantime, Jacob Martin also took the opportunity to showsome of his stylish batsmanship.Starting with a deficit of 9 on the last day, India “A moved from54-1 to 115-2 at lunch, scored in 44 overs, in two hours ofglorious sunshine. The lunch-time not out batsmen were JacobMartin 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 DwightMais, in the fifth over of the day, the 23rd of the innings. Theresulting edge was smartly held by Chris Gayle at second slip.India “A” in a spot of bother at 59-2, and the deficit still notcompletely erased.Martin really played authoritatively, and seemed not to bebothered at all by any of the bowlers. He certainly looked aclass above the rest of the Indian “A” batsmen as he strokedregular runs.Martin and Arun Kumar moved things along nicely to 130-2, withMartin 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 hedid hit the ball very hard, he did not keep the ball along theground. The ball ended up fast but straight into the hands ofWavell Hinds at cover point; India “A” 130-3 in over 51.Martin was out for 75 which included a nice mixture of defenseand aggression as he hit five 4’s in his 225 minute stay at thecrease.Arun Kumar soon followed. He had had a great tussle with Lewisearly in the morning, but the bowler was not successful.Arun Kumar seemed to be getting the better of the fight, as he hitLewis 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 endand from the first ball, a loosener, Arun Kumar chopped theinnocuous delivery onto his stumps to be bowled for a well made48. That 48 included five 4’s and one six. India “A” 155-4 inover 59.Hrishikesh Kanitkar, the left handed batsman who is India “A”‘scaptain, who had come to the crease at the fall of Martin’swicket, then put on a good show of both controlled hitting andeffective defense.When it just seemed that the India “A” captain would see his teamto tea, Chris Gayle was brought to the bowling attack. With thefirst ball of his second over, Kanitkar played inside of astraight 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 notout 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. Thepartnership had realized a brisk 43 runs when Dighe tried todrive leg-spinner Lewis through the off-side, only to see Gayletake a wonderful diving catch, to his left, at short extra-cover.Dighe had made 29 in 73 minutes at the crease facing 65 ballsand hitting three 4’s.Kaif eventually got to his half century in the third of necessaryovers in the final hour. His innings had only included oneboundary. At the close, he was 54 not out with the other not outbatsman being Sodhi with 19 not out. The West Indies “A” teambowlers shared the spoils.When eleven of the compulsory fifteen overs of that last hourwere completed, the umpires and players call it a day and a game,a tame draw.
