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Left-hander Dinesh Mongia hit an enterprising unbeaten century to stake his claim for the first Test as Board President’s XI declared their first innings at 275 for eight in 83 overs on the opening day of their three- day game against the West Indians here today. Mongia hit 12 fours and three sixes on his way to an unbeaten 101. At stumps, the visitors reached 20 without loss from five overs with openers Chris Gayle batting on 14 and Wavell Hinds on 5.
The other highlight of the Board XI innings was a fine 67 by another left-hander Hemang Badani. The hosts’ skipper Mohd Kaif chipped in with 40 but other players failed to click. Kaif won the toss and opted to bat. The opening burst by the Caribbean pace spearhead Mervyn Dillon, who sent down seven overs, saw openers Sanjay Bangar (2) and Gautam Gambhir (11) back in the pavilion in quick succession.
Badani and Kaif then joined forces and steadied the boat, putting 91 runs for the third wicket to neutralise the early advantage of the tourists. Windies skipper Carl Hooper, keen to see that the visitors started their nearly two-month long India tour on a positive note, brought himself on after lunch and was rewarded in his sixth over.
Kaif, who came to the crease at the fall of Gambhir when the Board XI was struggling at 17 for two, played a loose shot to a Carl Hooper delivery and was snapped up at point by Ramnaresh Sarwan, ending the partnership which lasted 125 minutes and 175 balls. Kaif's 95-ball knock included three fours. Badani, at the other end, played some fluent shots. He opened his account with a four of Dillon, and reached his half-century with a superb boundary off the same bowler.
Badani, who was going strong, was clean bowled for 67 (7x4, 128 balls, 202 mins) by Pedro Collins, who uprooted the middle stump with a fiery delivery. He was involved in a 50-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Dinesh Mongia which came in 51 minutes and 81 balls.
A batting collapse saw Parthiv Patel (5), Murali Kartik (1) and Sarandeep Singh (7) back in the pavilion in no time, as the hosts were reduced to 186 for 7. Then came another useful partnership, which saw Mongia putting on 56 runs for the eighth wicket with Amit Mishra (10) before the latter was run out. Tinu Yohannan was not out on six when the declaration came. Mongia has to thank Mishra for helping him get to his hundred. Mongia, when on 75, took off for a single which was not there and Mishra, who ran to the danger end, lost his wicket. |
