With the big guns of India A failing, their four-day game against West Indies A was poised on the knife-edge at stumps on the second day here Thursday with the home team on 191 for three in reply to the visitors' first innings tally of 406.
Resuming at their overnight total of 283 for six, the Windies were powered by a 97-run partnership for the seventh wicket between Leon Johnson (91, 131b, 6x4) and Nikita Miller (63 not out, 95b, 8x4). For India A, 23-year old left-arm spinner from Vadodara Bhargav Bhatt claimed seven for 113.
The Indians, in reply, lost their star batsmen, Gautam Gambhir (11), skipper Cheteshwar Pujara (25) and Virender Sehwag (7) at regular intervals, but opener Vasudevan Jagadeesh (79 batting, 172b, 8x4) and Abhishek Nayar (56 batting, 38b, 7x4, 1x6) stood firm to put on 77 runs for the unfinished fourth wicket.
While Gambhir and Sehwag, both attempting to regain their spots in the national team, were dismissed by left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, Pujara fell victim to the other left-arm spinner Miller who thus completed a fine day, having excelled with the bat too.
Brief scores:
West Indies A 406 all out in 121.5 overs (Kraigg Brathwaite 82, Assad Fudadin 63, Leon Johnson 91, Chadwick Walton 30, Nikita Miller 64 n.o, Bhargav Bhatt 7 for 113) vs India A (1st innings) 191 for 3 in 58 overs (Vasudevan Jagadeesh 79 n.o., Cheteshwar Pujara 25, Abhishek Nayar 56 n.o., Veerasammy Permaul 2 for 60).