Pant deals Windies A series loss

TAUNTON, England (CMC):

Rishabh Pant's breezy half-century scuppered the Windies A's hopes of victory as India A won the second and final four-day "Test" by five wickets here yesterday.

Resuming the final day on 214 for three in need of 107 runs for victory, India A stumbled early on but recovered through Pant's unbeaten 67, to reach their target of 321 and complete a 1-0 win in the two-match series.

The Windies A looked to be in the contest when they grabbed two wickets in the first four overs of the morning to reduce India A to 221 for five.

Ankit Bawne faced just three balls before he was bowled by pacer Sherman Lewis for one in the third over and Hanuma Vihari, unbeaten on 65 overnight, added just two before perishing via the run out route.

However, the 20-year-old Pant came to his side's rescue in an innings laced with 11 fours and requiring just 71 deliveries.

More importantly, he propelled an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of exactly 100 with Jayant Yadav, whose 23 not out came from 38 balls and included four boundaries.

The first four-day "Test" in Beckenham finished in a draw last week.

SCOREBOARD

WINDIES A 1st Innings 302

INDIA A 1st Innings 192

WINDIES 2nd Innings 210

INDIA A 2nd Innings (target: 321 runs)

(overnight 214 for three)

R Samarth c wkp D Thomas b Reifer 18

A Easwaran c wkp D Thomas b Shepherd 31

*K Nair c Campbell b Warrican 55

H Vihari run out 68

+R Pant not out 67

J Yadav not out 23

Extras (b35, w19, nb4) 58

TOTAL (5 wkts, 67.1 overs) 214

Fall of wickets: 1-51, 2-78, 3-214, 4-218, 5-221.

Bowling: Lewis 16-2-64-1, O Thomas 12-1-64-0, Reifer 18-2-49-1, Shepherd 9.1.-1-57-1, Warrican 9-0-36-1, Campbell 3-0-16-0.

Result: India A won by five wickets.

Series: India A win two-match series 1-0.

Toss: Windies A.

Umpires: M Newell, N Bainton.