Discarded opener Sadagoppan Ramesh gave the Indian selectors a reminder of his batting talents with a fine 110 as India 'A' posted 216 for 4 in their first innings, on the second day of the three-day match against New Zealand in Rajkot on Friday.
Replying to New Zealand's first innings total of 375 for 7 declared, the Indians were off to a good start, thanks to a 164-run stand for the first wicket between Ramesh and Akash Chopra (66 off 136 balls).
A slump in the middle cost India 'A' three quick wickets, including that of Connor Williams, another prospective opener, and skipper Mohammad Kaif (4). But Ramesh stood firm to stem the rot before being caught by Kiwi skipper Stephen Fleming, off Darryl Tuffey, after facing 206 balls.
At the close, Hemang Badani was batting on seven while Murali Kartik was on four.
It was imperative for India 'A' to put up a good show with the bat as their bowlers, Munaf Patel, Rudra Pratap Singh and S Sreesanth, had allowed the visitors to pile runs at will. Their openers did not disappoint. Ramesh, who was dropped on 96 by first slip fielder Scot Styris, got to the three-figure mark when he pushed Styris to mid-off for a couple. His century came off 190 balls in 252 minutes and included 18 hits to the fence.
The Tamil Nadu left-hander was undeterred in his shot-making by the fall of his partner, Chopra, who was caught by Paul Wiseman in the deep while trying to hook Jacob Oram, for 66 (13x4).
India 'A' lost two more quick wickets, that of Williams and Kaif, who must be disappointed as he was keen to make an impression and break into the Test squad.
Williams was caught by Styris in the slips off Vettori for four while Kaif was caught by wicketkeeper Robbie Hart down the leg side while trying to glance the same bowler.
What stood out on the day was the contrast in batting styles of Ramesh and Chopra. While Ramesh played with flamboyance, Chopra played a surprisingly subdued knock.
Chopra, who scored a hundred in the washed-out match at Vishakhapatnam, took 40 minutes to open his account after facing 30 deliveries.
But Ramesh timed his shots well right from the word go and did not spare any of the New Zealand bowlers. He was particularly severe on Jacob Oram and Daniel Vettori, cutting and driving them at will. He also scored freely off left arm spinner Daniel Vettori and Styris. He reached his 50 with a hook off Craig McMillan which also brought up India A's hundred.
Earlier, all-rounder Jacob Oram's unbeaten 101, off 141 balls with ten fours and three sixes, helped New Zealand declare their first innings on 375 for seven off 110.5 overs, half an hour before lunch.
Oram, 59 overnight, shouldered the resposibility of taking his side to a good score after the other overnight batsman and the first century maker for the Kiwis, Mark Richardson, retired hurt on his overnight score of 128.
Scoreboard:
New Zealand first innings: (decl. 375-7)
M Richardson retired hurt 128
L Vincent b Kartik 11
S Fleming b Patel 27
S Styris c Gupta b Patel 8
N Astle lbw Patel 0
C Macmillan c Chopra b Sree Santh 30
J Oram not out 101
R Hart c Gupta b Kartik 20
D Vettori c (sub) Kale b Kartik 7
P Wiseman not out 4
Extras: (b-5, lb-12, w-1, nb-21) 39
Total: (for 7 wickets in 80 overs) 375
Fall of wickets: 1-32, 2-79, 3-91, 4-91, 5-180, 6-353, 7-362.
Bowling: M Patel 25.4-5-83-3, R P Singh 23.2-5-77-0, Sree Santh 12.5-5-22-1, M Kartik 33.5-4-118-3, S Ramesh 11.1-3-45-0, Gavaskar 4-0-13-0.
India 'A' first innings:
A Chopra c Wiseman b Oram 66
S Ramesh c Fleming b Tuffey 110
C Willams c Styris b Vettori 4
M Kaif c Hart b Styris 4
H Badani batting 7
M Kartik batting 4
Extras (lb-8, b-1, w-1, nb-11) 21
Total (for 4 wkts in 67 overs) 216
Fall of wickets: 1-64, 2-170, 3-195, 4-209.
Bowling: Tuffey 17-7-43-1, Oram 15-2-48-1, Styris 9-2-45-1, Vettori 14-3-35-1, McMillan 3-2-9-0, Wiseman 9-2-27-0.
