India 'A' hit back on Day 2

The India "A" team that turned up at Kensington Oval on Saturday was clearly not the same one that was on display the previous day.

Badly needing a victory to qualify for the semifinals of the Carib Beer International Challenge, the tourists made most of the running on Day 2 of their contest against West Indies "B".

Bajan fast bowler Jason Bennett once more impressed, grabbing three wickets in an inspired post-tea spell. However, the visitors' close of play position of 210 for three - including a century by consistent opener Gautam Gambhir - in response to 388 represented an admirable comeback after a disappointing opening day.

After the West Indies Under-23s resumed on 324 for five, India "A" took care of the second half of the order by rolling over the last five wickets for 64 runs, mainly with the help of a few irresponsible strokes.

For the next three hours, the Indians launched their reply with a solid century stand between their in-form openers Gambhir and Akash Chopra.

It was broken half-hour after tea by the irrepressible Bennett, who proceeded to collect two more scalps in a fine spell of 12 overs that was broken by the afternoon interval.

The Barbadian, who now has 25 wickets, finished with three for 54 from 16 overs, but the Indians might want to say they have a slight advantage at the half-way stage of the match.

The left-handed Gambhir was unbeaten on 107, having occupied the crease for close to four-and-a-half hours and faced 185 balls to reaching his tenth first-class century in his 36th first-class match.

The 21-year-old from Delhi, a heavy scorer in domestic competitions in which he boasts of a first-class average of more than 60, also went past 600 runs for the regional tournament.

Chopra, 25, became the ninth batsman in the competition to join the 500-run club. His 58 off 130 balls with six fours also added to his impeccable first-class average of more than 56, before Bennett won a lbw verdict against him although he indicated the ball struck the bat.

Bennett also removed Connor Williams with a yorker that hit his off-stump and induced Ambati Rayudu into hitting a catch to mid-wicket from a slower ball.