On its first day of competitive outing the West Indies, led by Jason Holder, got a taste of the conditions and also the quality of the Indian batsmen, a few of whom are knocking on the doors of Test cricket.
It was warm and sunny at the Reliance Stadium on Saturday, and the pitch for the warm-up match against the Board President’s XI was expectedly flat; a perfect setting for the Indian batsmen to show their flair for stroke-making. In the end, the West Indies conceded 360 at exactly four runs an ever before the home side declared its first innings.
There was additional interest on how Test-contenders and openers — Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal — would shape up against the West Indies fast bowlers.
As it transpired, after captain Karun Nair chose to bat, Shaw would come to regret playing a slash off the West Indies’ most successful strike bowler in recent times, fast bowler Shannon Gabriel.
After executing a fine cover-drive and a cut shot, Shaw employed the horizontal bat shot and perished, offering a catch to third slip, Shimron Hetmyer. Like Shaw, G. Hanuma Vihari too would have been disappointed. He spent nearly one hour in the middle, but made only three off 28 balls before nicking seamer Sherman Lewis to Shane Dorwich.
Taking advantage
The others, including Mayank Agarwal, Shreyas Iyer, Ankeet Bawane made the most of the splendid batting condition. While Agarwal missed what would have been a satisfying century, Bawane worked towards an impressive unbeaten three-figure knock. Determined to make the opportunity count, Agarwal raced to his half century off 73 balls with 12 fours.
Shreyas smashed five sixes on way to a 64-ball 61, while Bawane, after a steady start, was in total control of the West Indian attack. He ended the day on an unbeaten 116 (191 balls,15x4s). Bawane put on 113 for the fifth wicket with Shreyas, 48 for the sixth with Smit Patel and an unbeaten 54 for the seventh with Jalaj Saxena.
Prasidh in for Vignesh
Karnataka’s right-arm medium pacer Prasidh Krishna has replaced Tamil Nadu’s K. Vignesh in the BCCI President’s XI team.
According to a BCCI official, Vignesh has been laid low by a thigh injury.
The scores: Board President’s XI: Prithvi Shaw c Hetmyer b Gabriel 8, Mayank Agarwal c Hetmyer b Bishoo 90, G. Hanuma Vihari c Dowrich b Lewis 3, Karun Nair c Bishoo b Gabriel 29, Shreyas Iyer c Hetmyer b Bishoo 61, Ankeet Bawane (not out) 116, Smit Patel c Dowrich b Bishoo 15, Jalaj Saxena (not out) 18; Extras (b-4, lb-5, nb-11): 20; Total (for 6 wkts decl. in 90 overs): 360.
Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-40, 3-132, 4-145, 5-258, 6-306.
West Indies bowling: Shannon Gabriel 8-1-41-2, Keemo Paul 10-1-53-0, Sherman Lewis 10-6-13-1, Jomel Warrican 18-3-44-0, Devendra Bishoo 21-1-104-3, Roston Chase 12-1-57-0, Kraigg Brathwaite 11-4-39-0.
Toss: BP XI.