India A vs Windies A: Review- Vihari and Shaw's blitz scripts India's triumph in a dead-rubber

The start of the triangular series for India A was a shambolic one as they faced a defeat versus the England Lions. However, they came back and thumped the Windies A and the hosts to keep their hopes alive in the tournament. Moreover, they also ensured that they qualify for the final. Their last league match was a mere formality and Shreyas Iyer’s men brushed aside the Windies by 203 runs.

Shaw and Vihari plunder Devon Thomas and Co

India A won the toss and didn’t have any double thoughts about batting first. Rishabh Pant, who opened with Prithvi Shaw, couldn’t perform and was nipped out by Chemar Holder. The pacer pinned Iyer to well and truly push India on the backfoot. Hanuma Vihari joined Shaw in the middle and the duo carved a stand of 160 runs from 139 balls and got their team right back into the match.

Shaw notched his second century in the tour, but Holder picked up his third wicket to give the Windies the much-needed breakthrough. Deepak Hooda scored 21 runs, but never looked settles at a strike-rate of 67. Vijay Shankar also wasn’t able to accelerate. Vihari, at the other end, played till the very end and his knock of 147 runs off 131 runs lifted Shreyas Iyer & Co. to 354. Ishan Kishan’s breezy 21 runs also helped.

Windies crumble

The target was always going to be daunting for a team that had lost three matches on the trot. They got off to the worst possible start as Jermaine Blackwood was dismissed by Deepak Chahar in the very first delivery. Andrew McCarthy tried to pull things back but became Chahar’s second victim. Opener Chandrapaul Hemraj looked solid during his knock of 43 and held the innings together.

However, Shankar removed him in the 14th over to deliver a body blow. Thomas was run-out a couple of overs later. Sunil Ambris looked determined but was cleaned up by Axar Patel in the 24th over. Raymon Reifer churned out a gritty 26 runs-innings, however, fell prey to Krishnappa Gowtham. The Windies could never find their feet from there onwards and were bowled out for 151 runs.

Brief Scores

India A: 354/6 in 50 overs; (Hanuma Vihari 147, Prithvi Shaw 102; Chemar Holder 3/70, Rakheem Cornwall 1/43)

Windies A: 151 all out in 37.4 overs: (Chandrapaul Hemraj 43, Sunil Ambris 32; Axar Patel 4/34; Deepak Chahar 2/21)

India A beat Windies A by 203 runs