GROS ISLET, St Lucia, CMC – Out-of-favour senior team leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo made a welcome return to form as West Indies A had the better of the exchanges on the opening day of the decisive third unofficial “Test” against India A here yesterday.
The right-armer, who has struggled in the series with just a single wicket in the two matches so far, claimed three for 40 to help dismiss India A for 230 after they were sent in at the Beausejour Cricket Stadium.
He was supported by seamer Jonathan Carter who picked up three for 67.
Right-handed lower order batsman Jalaj Saxena top-scored with a breezy 61 while captain Cheteshwar Pujara got 33 and Ajinkya Rahane and Manoj Tiwary, 32 apiece.
In reply, West Indies A were 34 without loss, with Test opener Kieran Powell unbeaten on 16 and out-of-favour senior team batsman Kraigg Brathwaite on 13.
West Indies A reduced the visitors to 32 for two early on after left-arm speedster Delorn Johnson removed Abhinav Mukund for 10 to a catch at second slip by Carter and Rohit Sharma was then bowled for 12, shouldering arms to Carter.
Rahane and Pujara added 46 for the third wicket, before the right-handed Rahane fell just before lunch, caught behind off one from left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul that spun and bounced.
India A slipped to 116 for five in the post-lunch session before a sequence of small partnerships saw then past the 200-run mark.
Tiwary and wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha (27) put on 30 for the sixth wicket before Saha and Saxena added a further 33 for the seventh wicket.
Saxena was bold in his stroke-play, smashing 10 fours off just 59 balls.
He was Bishoo’s second wicket, ninth out caught by Brathwaite at mid-wicket.
Bishoo’s third wicket came when he bowled Parvinder Awana without scoring to wrap up the innings.