WICB President’s XI v India, 2nd Warm up game – Day 1 Review

Team India took field in the 2nd warm-up game against West Indies Cricket Board President’s XI at Basseterre without their Test regular pacers Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav from the 13-men team along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rohit Sharma who did well in the first warm-up game. Indian spinners picked 8 wickets between themselves to bowl out the President’s XI for 180. Later Indian team lost 3 wickets before stumps on Day 1 scoring 93 runs.

Due to the early morning showers, the game was delayed by 20 minutes after President’s XI captain Leon Johnson won the toss and elected to bat. Mohammed Shami didn’t seem to trouble the batsmen as John Campbell hit a couple of boundaries in his bowling. Shardul Thakur, who is playing his first game on tour with the Indian team, bowled well in his first spell. He brought the ball back into left-handed openers and produced the breakthrough.

Captain Johnson tried to play a short ball off Thakur but could only send it to mid-on where Stuart Binny took a brilliant diving catch. Campbell on the other end hit a couple of boundaries off Ravi Ashwin only before he was deceived and got stumped for 34. Just before lunch, Shai Hope hit one straight to Ashwin at covers off Binny after scoring 11.

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Ravindra Jadeja, playing his first warm-up game troubled the batsmen throughout. The bounce he extracted helped him to keep things tight and pick wickets. He picked up 3 wickets after Lunch as President’s XI collapsed to 119/6. Jadeja’s got rid of Vishaul Singh who edged it to Pujara at forward short leg while Jermaine Blackwood, who looked good during his innings of 36 was cleaned up as Jadeja’s delivery came in quickly after pitching. Soon he trapped Hodge in front and Jadeja’s bowling figures read 13-9-16-3.

Rahkeem Cornwall took on Amit Mishra and smashed a few boundaries including a six down the ground. Keeper Hamilton tried to do the same but holed out to Shami at backward short leg as Mishra bagged a wicket. Ashwin got the President’s XI top scorer Cornwall for 41 as he picked Pujara at cover. Mishra got Dawes as a straight ball hit him right in front while Motie got stumped off Ashwin’s bowling. WICB President’s XI was bowled out for 180 a little after the Tea break. KL Rahul took over keeping duties in the 2nd session.

Indian openers got off the mark with boundaries. Shikhar Dhawan scored just 9 before he went for a loose cut only to give a catch to Hope at point off Dawes. K Holder struck in the next over as Murali Vijay who was looking good with 3 fours and a six during his 23 edged to keeper trying to play a cut similar to that off Dhawan.

Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara came together there after and scored runs at a good pace. Rahul hit 5 fours in his unbeaten 30-run knock including a six while Pujara hit 2 fours and a six before a quicker delivery from Cornwall took his leg stump with it while he was on 28. Soon after Pujara’s wicket, stumps were called with India 93/3 after playing 25.3 overs.

Brief scores: 

WICB President’s XI – 180 (62.4) (Rahkeem Cornwall – 41, Ravindra Jadeja – 3/16)

India – 93/3 (25.3) (KL Rahul – 38*, Chemar Holder – 1/8)