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Laxman finds form with 70

Saturday, March 8 2003

Led by a fighting 70 from their out-of-form captain VVS Laxman, India ‘A’ were all out for 249 against Guyana on the first day of the sixth round of their Carib Beer series regional first class four-day cricket game which ended at Bourda yesterday.

The home team survived eight minutes of batting time yesterday afternoon to end the day on seven without loss.
Azeemul Haniff (6) and Sewnarine Chattergoon (1) are the not out batsmen with Guyana, the defending Busta International Shield champions 243 runs away from first innings points going into the second day today.


Earlier, Laxman reached the boundary nine times in his 225-minute and 168 ball innings to record his first half-century in what has been a disappointing Carib Beer series so far after he had won the toss and elected to bat first on a flat batting track.


India, with 18 points from four games and only ahead of West Indies ‘B’ on the points table, lost their way after tea as their last six wickets fell for 62 runs after they were well placed on 184-4 at the break.


Fast Bowlers Eusan Crandon (3-60) and Reon Griffith (3-50) shared six of the wickets to fall while test spinners Mahendra Naga-mootoo (2-81) and the competition’s leading wicket taker Neil McGarell (2-48) were also among the wickets for the Guyanese.


Playing before almost empty stands in brilliant sunshine, the home team, placed joint fourth with the Windwards on the points table with 30 points, made an early break through when Crandon, in his first game for the season, removed Gautam Gambhir to leave the score on 5-1. Gambhir, India’s leading run scorer in the competition, pushed forward to a ball that left him and was caught behind by Vishal Nagamotoo for four. Akash Chopra (23) was then LBW to Griffith at 58-2 after adding 53 run in 61 minutes for the second wicket with Connor Williams.


At lunch the visitors were 82-2 with Williams on 50, his second half-century for the season, and Laxman, with 56 runs from seven previous innings at an average of 8 this season, not out on three.


After the interval, Guyana struck again when Williams, who batted for 112 minutes, faced 98 balls and struck five fours and a six in his 54, was taken at slip by skipper Neil McGarell off test leg spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo to leave the score on 86-3.


Laxman, who scored a half-century the last time he played at Bourda in the West Indies, India test series last year, was joined by fellow test player Hemang Bandani.


The pair took the score to 145 before Bandani was bowled by McGarell off his pads for 27 from 74 balls and 75 minutes with five fours.


Laxman appeared lucky to survive a confident LBW appeal when on 29 off Nagamootoo who was warned by umpire Basil Morgan for running on the ‘protected area’ of the pitch on his follow through.


The India ‘A’ skipper was also dropped by Vishal Nagamootoo on 31 at 141-3 in the first over bowled by off spinner Lennox Cush. He and Jai Yadav then helped their team to 184-4 by tea as 102 runs were scored inthe second session.
Laxman (51) and Yadav (23) were the not out batsmen at the break with Laxman passing his previous best score in the competition of 46.


After the break Griffith bowled Yadav (25) at 187-5 and had Ajay Ratra (5) caught at backward square-leg as the Indians slipped to 193-6.


Crandon struck a telling blow for Guyana when Laxman, who appeared to get an inside edge onto his pad, was adjudged LBW at 216-7.


Without addition to the score Kartik (4) was struck plumb in front to McGarell while Crandon knocked out the leg stump of Lakshmipathy Balagi (1) at 219-9 as Guyana picked up four quick wickets after tea.


Guyana made one change from the team which drew with Jamaica in their last match bringing in Crandon for left arm pacer Naresh Roopnarine. Reon King is still on the injured list

Posted by Orin