Despite the presence of a number of IPL players, the Indian ‘A’ team could not defeat the West Indies ‘A’ team in their first T20 match at the Queen’s Park Oval on Saturday night.
Rain throughout the day reduced the match to an 18-over a side affair and it provided entertainment for the small crowd on hand. Batting first the Indians were stifled by the left-arm spin of Sulieman Benn and the accurate medium pace of Jason Holder and were bowled out for 130 with two of their allotted 20 overs remaining.
The West Indies ‘A’ team in reply got home at 131 for seven with 2.2 overs in the bank. However, it was not an easy victory as they had to fight hard for runs on a pitch that was slow and low and an outfield on the heavy side due to the elements.
The team lost wickets at regular intervals after a 34-run opening stand between Nkrumah Bonner (25) and skipper Keiran Powell (10). Local boy Jason Mohammed failed to excite and made only five but Bajans Jonathan Carter and Benn saw the Windies `A’ team home. Carter found an able ally in Holder to add 33 runs for the sixth wicket and when both fell with the score at 109, it was the experienced Benn, who saw it home with an unbeaten 17 off just six balls with two sixes. Carter top scored with 35 off 21 balls with three sixes and a four.
Earlier, the Indians faltered after a good start and crashed from 69 for one to 130 all out. Rohit Sharma, the Mumbai Indians star, showed his class at the top of the order hitting 52 off 36 balls with five fours and two sixes while Shikkhar Dhawan stroked a confident 21 off 24 balls with two fours.
Those two apart, the other batsmen failed to come to terms with the Oval pitch which ironically, is similar to Indian pitches. Benn finished 3/24, while Holder grabbed 3/19. Jamaican Krishmar Santokie also bowled well and finished with 2/27.
The second match of the series was played last night also at the Oval.
