CHENNAI, Dec 4: The India A batsmen failed to impress both their coach Krishnamachari Srikkanth and the selectors present at the M A Chidambaram stadium on the opening day of their four-day second cricket `Test' against the West Indies A on Friday. The home team adopted an over cautious approach which made for dull and drab cricket. And on a truncated day's play, the home team crawled to 162 for five in 82 overs when play was called off by umpires VK Ramaswamy and SV Ramani due to bad light. Earlier, play was held up for about 20 minutes after lunch because of a drizzle.Even the final score represents a recovery of sorts. And for this, the Indian team is indebted to the skipper Hrishikesh Kanitkar, who inched his way to a fighting unbeaten 73 (326m, 221b, 1x6, 2x4). He propped up the total adding 70 runs for the unbroken sixth wicket partnership with wicketkeeper MSK Prasad, who made a watchful 25 not out.The Indians were off a bad start when they lost dashing opener Wasim Jaffer in a mix up withSadagopan Ramesh in the second over. The latter hit a ball to short fine leg and Jaffer called for a run. Ramesh responded, but on seeing Ramnaresh Sarwan making a brilliant stop, the non-striker preferred to go back. By then the fielder had sent in an accurate throw to wicketkeeper Courtney Brown, who did the rest, with both the batsmen stranded at the other end.Amay Khurasia joined Ramesh and in their brief association, the former played with more flourish while Ramesh preferred to score through pushes and nudges. It was the more enterprising Khurasia who was the next to fall, medium pacer Carl Tuckett having him caught behind the wickets to leave the Indians tottering at 26 for two. The Madhya Pradesh batsman hit three boundaries, of which a splendid pull off left-arm seamer Pedro Collins stood out.Ramesh, who has been among runs this season, was at home against the seamers and was shaping well on his home ground with skipper Kanitkar. But the introduction of off-spinner Chrish Gayle spelt his doom.Off the third delivery of the bowlers' first over, Ramesh, playing hesitatingly, was bowled.West Indies continued to hold the upper hand removing two more wickets, those off the left handed Rohan Gavaskar (11) and Sanjay Raul (7) leaving the home side gasping for breath at 92 for five. The former was the first victim of Bishop with McGarell at gully fastening on to an uppish cut. Left-arm spinner Neil McGarell accounted for Sanjay Raul who gave a straightforward catch to Wavel Hinds at mid wicket.Rohan hit two consecutive fours off Gayle, the strokes bringing back memories of his famous father.Kanitkar, who is capable of forcing the ball and accelerating the score, was altogether a different man today. True, the left handed Kanitkar hit the only six six of the day when he lofted left-arm spinner Neil McGarell over long-on. But generally, his was a painstaking knock. He took 22 deliveries to get the single which took him to his 50. Prasad was even more tardy, taking 68 minutes to score his firstrun.Among the West Indian bowlers Bishop, Tuckett, Gayle and McGarell finished with a wicket each while Collins, who bowled fairly well was unlucky to go without a wicket.Despite a downpour early in the morning, the super sopper of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association saw the match start on time.ScorebaordIndia A: Wasim Jaffer (run out) 0, Sadagopan Ramesh b Chris Gayle 22, Amay Khurasia c Courtney Brown v Carl Tuckett 17, Hrishikesh Kanitkar (batting) 73, Rohan Gavaskar c McGarell b Bishop 11, Sanjay Raul c Hinds b McGarell 7, MSK Prasad (batting) 25. Extras (b1, no6).Total: (for 5 wkt, 82 overs) 162.Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-26, 3-50, 4-66, 5-92.Bowling: Pedro Collins 16-3-41-0, Ian Bishop 16-5-30-1; Carl Tuckett 14-9-11-1, Chris Gayle 17-4-38-1, Neil McGarell 17-3-35-0.
