Hinds cracks 147 as West Indies take command
Narayanan Madhavan
Opener Wavell Hinds scored a sizzling 147, including four sixes, in a West Indies total of 341 for two on the second day of their three-day tour opener against a Board President's XI on Saturday.
The left-hander hit 17 boundaries in his 187-ball knock and starred in two century partnerships as the West Indies top order gained useful batting practice in their only warm-up game before the first Test in Mumbai, starting on October 9.
Hinds compiled 128 for the first wicket with Chris Gayle (62) and 150 for the second with Ramnaresh Sarwan (93 not out) to put his team in command in reply to the home side's 275 for eight declared.
West Indies, 20 without loss overnight, lost Gayle before the lunch interval when he hit off-spinner Sarandeep Singh for a six but was caught at mid-off by skipper Mohammad Kaif while going for a repeat shot.
Hinds trailed Gayle during the day's first hour but raced past his partner with a flurry of boundaries, which included two exquisite square drives off medium-pacer Sanjay Bangar.
The 26-year-old Jamaican Hinds hit leg spinner Amit Mishra for a six over mid-off and punished left-arm spinner Murali Kartik for his of four sixes to raise his century off 132 balls.
But Kartik got his revenge having Hinds trapped lbw with a ball that held on to its line.
Sarwan, who looked rock-solid in defence and deftly mixed caution with aggression, hit Kartik for a six over mid-on and then for two fours through the off-side later in the same over.
Sarandeep's seasoned off-spin did no wonders after lunch as Sarwan drove him to long-on and pulled him to mid-wicket for consecutive fours.
Mishra maintained a tight line with his flighted deliveries but failed to get a wicket even though he troubled left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul (20 not out).
Mishra, who earned a place in the squad for the first two matches of the three-Test series between India and West Indies,
ended the day giving away 58 runs from 19 overs.
The second Test will be played in Madras (October 17 to 21) and the third in Calcutta (October 30 to November 3).
Mail Cricket Editor
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