Devang’s ton strengthens Youth

Devang’s ton helped India Youth to a healthy 242 for four in reply to the 399 for 7 declared at the draw of stumps of their rivals.

“I was a bit weary about Ian Bishop, but once I overcame the initial hiccups I settled down to play him right,” added Gandhi who till date has nine first class hundreds and two double tons to his credit.

In the same tone he added, “Oh that was cheeky,” about the way he reached his hundred, when he punched Ian Bishop to the deep cover fence.

Earlier, on resumption, the Windies played 7.2 overs for the day which concluded 38 minutes before lunch to yield 49 runs. The slow over progress was basically due to huge stoppages. Mumbai’s opener Amit Pagnis sprained his left ankle and was advised at least a fortnight’s rest by doctor Suresh Gokhale.

The day began with overnight hero Richard Smith being sent back for 179, adding nine runs to his overnight total of 170. Thereafter, Carl Tuckett made a quick 27 off 37 balls, before Bishop signalled the declaration.

The task was stupendous 400 runs being the initial target and looking steeper considering the fact that the selectors were watching. However, with the task on hand, the India Youth openers Devang Gandhi and Sadagopan Ramesh began cautiously. Showing no signs of being threatened by the Caribbean speedsters, spearheaded by Ian Bishop, they went about their job picking singles at regular intervals.

Ramesh was a picture of courage, particularly when he was hit by a Pedro Collins’s bouncer. However, displaying sheer courage, he belted Collins to the long-on fence and got off the mark in the very next ball.

Devang was more authoritative. He got off the mark in a similar fashion as his counterpart, with a four off Bishop to the square-leg fence. Devang, who is looking forward for another big knock in the Test’ beginning in Bangalore from November 28, was involved in two useful partnerships. The first with opening partner S Ramesh — worth 128 runs — and later with Mithun Minhas for the third wicket, worth 82 runs.

His presence was appreciated the most when the hosts raced to their 50 off 11.3 overs, which included 35 runs from Devang himself, and in no time he reached his 50 — placing spinner Niel McGarrel into the vacant third-man position, for three.

After reaching the coveted three-figure mark, a sense of urgency crept into Gandhi as he went after the bowlers. On one instance he sent McGarell over the long-off fence for the only six of the day. However, in another similar attempt two balls later, he holed out to Ian Bishop at silly mid-off.

Scoreboard
West Indies A’ (Overnight 350/3): Richard Smith lbw A Zaidi 179 Courtney Browne not out 22, Carl Tuckett c S Ramesh b S Bahutule 27.
Extras: (b1, lb5, nb5) 11.
Total: 399 for 7 decl. (111.2 overs).
Fall-of-Wickets: 1/7, 2/18, 3/23, 4/241, 5/326, 6/359, 7/399.
Bowling: Obaid Kamal 25-9-58-2, Ashish Winston Zaidi 19-4-83-2, Nilesh Kulkarni 20-6-83-0, Sairaj Bahutule 23.2-1-104-1, S Sriram 8-2-18-0, Mithun Minhas 6-1-15-0, Rohan Gavaskar 7-2-26-2, Debang Gandhi 3-1-06-0.
India Youth (1st innings): Devang Gandhi c I Bisop b N Mcgarrel 120, S Ramesh c Griffith b P Collins 46, Rohan Gavaskar c C Gayle b N Mc Garrel 4, Mithu Minhas b N McGarrel 28, S Sriram batting 18, Vijay Dahiya batting 6.
Extras: (l8, lb4, nb8) 20.
Total: 242 for 4 (70 Overs).Fall-of-wickets: 1/128, 1/133, 3/215, 4/230.
Bowling: Pedro Collins 12-1-66-1 (nb1), Ian Bishop 10-2-38-0 (nb2), Carl Tuckett 12-1-36-0, Niel McGarrel 22-4-50-3, Christopher Gayel 14-1-40-0.