Jadeja, Ashwin dominate as India bowl out WICB XI for 180

The Indian spin troika of Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin and Amit Mishra maintained their stranglehold on the inexperienced West Indies Board President's XI to bowl them out for a paltry 180 on Thursday, the first day of the final warm-up game in Basseterre, St Kitts.

At stumps, India were 93 for three in reply, with K L Rahul (batting 30) looking solid and Cheteshwar Pujara (28) dismissed off the last ball of the day.

Regular openers Murali Vijay (23) and Shikhar Dhawan (9) were dismissed quickly by the West Indies' new ball bowlers.

The day, however, belonged to the Indian spinners, with Jadeja registering miserly figures of 3-16 in 13 overs as he stifled the batsmen for runs with accurate bowling.

Ashwin (3-62 in 19.5 overs), although rusty, and Mishra (2-45 in 10 overs), who was a tad expensive, nevertheless, complemented Jadeja by picking up crucial wickets as the home team was all out in 62.5 overs after opting to bat. 

When India started bowling, Mohammed Shami was a bit wayward with the new ball and did not bowl after his first five-over spell in the morning. 

Rookie Shardul Thakur (1-24), meanwhile, was impressive with his line and length and often beat the batsmen. He got the opening breakthrough, having skipper Leon Johnson (3) caught by a diving Stuart Binny at mid-off.

Binny (1-8) was the first-change bowler and added to the wickets' column, removing Shai Hope (11).

He too bowled the initial spell of five overs only, as most of the bull-work during the day was entrusted to the three spinners, who didn't disappoint.

Ashwin seemed to have recovered completely from his injury-scare before departing from India; he worked out a nice length after initial rustiness thereafter during his 19.5 overs. 

Although the pitch was slow, he used the bounce beautifully.

Opener John Campbell (34) was stumped while charging at Ashwin, and later the off-spinner also removed Rahkeem Cornwall (41) and Gudakesh Motie (8). 

Cornwall was the top-scorer for the Board President's side, hitting seven fours in his 56-ball stay. The burly batsman looked to attack against the spinners and had an interesting duel with Mishra (2-45), whom he hit for a six. 

But the real star of the day was Jadeja, who picked up wickets in two lengthy spells spanning 13 overs, and ran through the middle order. He bowled Jermaine Blackwood (36), and then struck quick blows after lunch to remove Vishaul Singh (3) and Montcin Hodge (6).  

Jadeja used the bounce on offer to good effect and was nearly unplayable at times on account of his accuracy.

Once Cornwall was dismissed off Ashwin, the end came quickly for the hosts after tea, leaving almost an entire session for the Indians to bat. 

Vijay opened with Dhawan and the duo put on 34 runs for the opening wicket. The right-hander looked at ease during his stay and the only mistake he made was when he chased a wide delivery and was caught behind off Chemar Holder (1-8). 

Earlier, Dhawan too showed some patience at the crease but was out-scored by his partner. Just when he looked to be opening up, he played a loose stroke and was caught at backward point off Jason Dawes (1-15). 

Rahul, who hit two fours, was sent in to bat at No 3 and Pujara put on 59 runs for the third wicket. They didn't look in any hurry and wanted to just spend time in the middle.

Towards close of play, there were a couple hiccups in terms of running between the wickets.

Pujara was then bowled in the last over of the day, trying to turn one off Cornwall (1-17) onto the leg-side.

Scorecard

WICB XI (1st innings):

J Campbell st Saha b Ashwin 34

L Johnson c Binny b Thakur 3

S Hope c Ashwin b Binny 11

J Blackwood b Jadeja 36

V Singh c Pujara b Jadeja 3

M Hodge lbw b Jadeja 6

R Cornwall c Pujara b Ashwin 41

J Hamilton c Shami b Mishra 1

K Roach not out 11

J Dawes lbw b Mishra 18

G Moti-Kanhai c Saha b Ashwin 8

Extras: (b-4, lb-2, nb-2) 8

Total: (all out; 62.5 overs) 180

Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-49, 3-57, 4-81, 5-98, 6-119, 7-135, 8-143, 9-172

Bowling: Shami 5-0-19-0, Thakur 10-1-24-1, Ashwin 19.5-5-62-3, Binny 5-3-8-1, Jadeja 13-9-16-3, Mishra 10-2-45-2.

Indians (1st innings):

M Vijay c Hamilton b Holder 23

S Dhawan c Hope b Dawes 9

KL Rahul not out 30

C Pujara b Cornwall 28

Extras: (lb-1, w-1, nb-1) 3

Total: (for 3 wickets; 25.3 overs) 93

Fall of wickets: 1-34, 2-34, 3-93

Bowling: Roach 5-1-12-0, Joseph 4-1-21-0, Holder 5-2-8-1, Dawes 5-1-15-1, Cornwall 3.3-0-17-1, Moti-Kanhai 3-0-19-0.