North Sound (Antigua): India A completed the formalities, though not without hiccups, to notch up a six-wicket win over West Indies A on the fourth and final day of the first unofficial Test here Saturday.
Set a target of 97 for victory, India needed just 68 runs on the final day and they did it in 19.3 overs but at the expense of three wickets. India’s Shahbaz Nadeem (10-wicket match haul) claimed five wickets in both the innings to play a crucial role in India’s victory.
After resuming at 29 for 1, overnight batsman Abhimanyu Easwaran (27) lasted just six balls in the morning as he fell to Chemar Holder for the addition of just four runs to his individual and team total.
Captain Hanuma Vihari (19) and Srikar Bharat (28) then stitched 49 runs for the third wicket from 13 overs to take India A to the threshold of victory before they got separated.
Bharat was out at team score of 82 for three and Vihari also got out soon after as India A were reduced to 90 for 4. But first innings half centurions — Wriddhiman Saha (9 not out) and Shivam Dube (4 not out) — took the team to 97 for four for an easy win at the end.
For West Indies A, Holder (1/33), Jomel Warrican (1/7) and Rahkeem Cornwall (2/18) took wicket apiece on the final day.
Brief Scores: India A 312 and 97/4 in 30 overs (Srikar Bharat 28, Abhimanyu Easwaran 27; Rahkeem Cornwall 2/18) beat West Indies A 228 and 180 by 6 wickets
