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Khanolkar flays Windies attack

Makeshift opener Shreyas Khanolkar cracked a rapid 102 as Indian Railways raced to 179 for one in reply to the West Indies' first innings 449 for eight declared on the second day of their three-day match in Pune on Friday.

Khanolkar, asked to open with Murli Kartik ahead of the regular combination of captain Abhay Sharma and Jai Prakash Yadav, relished the opportunity, hitting 20 fours in his 92-ball knock as Railways made all their runs in the last session.

Kartik, normally a lower-order batsman, joined in with an unbeaten 72 as they raised 167 for the first wicket on a flat track offering some assistance to the spinners.

Khanolkar was particularly harsh on leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo, who conceded 34 runs from four overs, before he was out, driving occasional spinner Ryan Hinds to Daren Powell at cover.

Gareth Breese had earlier propped up the West Indies with a timely 57 after off-spinner Kulamani Parida struck thrice in the afternoon session.

The visiting team was reduced to 354 for eight before Breese and Nagamootoo (39 not out) shared an unbroken 94-run stand.

Parida removed West Indies stand-in captain Ridley Jacobs (9) in his first over after lunch, uprooting the left-hander's off-stump when he when for a wild heave over mid-wicket.

The off-spinner then trapped Ramnaresh Sarwan for 10 with a delivery that pitched outside off but spun in viciously.

Parida's next victim was Powell, out driving straight to Kartik at mid-wicket for nought.

The West Indies, 297 for two overnight, also lost three early wickets in the morning session.

The visiting team, which has lost the three-Test series 2-0, with the final match starting in Calcutta on October 30, rested captain Carl Hooper, left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and fast bowlers Mervyn Dillon and Pedro Collins.

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