West Indies’ wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin's century went in vain as they slumped to a 16-run loss against India ‘A’ in their second and final warm-up 50-over match ahead of the five-match ODI series against India at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday.
Chasing an imposing target of 283, Ramdin smashed a run-a-ball century to rescue his side from a precarious 65 for 4, but the visitors could only managed 266 for nine in their stipulated 50 overs.
The wicket-keeper batsman's 102 helped his side inch closer to the target during which he struck 10 fours and three sixes.
Asked to bat second, the Caribbean side's batting woes continued as they lost both the openers Jermaine Blackwood and Leon Johnson inside the first eight overs. The two got out on identical score of seven off 12 balls.
Skipper Kieron Pollard scored just nine off 17 balls. He struck Sharma for a mammoth six but was back in the hut, when the leg-spinner shattered his stumps two balls later, leaving his side reeling at 65 for four after 16 overs.
It was then up to Ramdin and Darren Sammy to do the repair job, who both notched up a century and half-century each.
Ramdin and Sammy shared a 101-run stand for the fifth wicket before the later mistimed a shot and was caught by stumper Sanju Samson off Dhawal Kulkarni.
Sammy's 67-ball 50-run knock comprised six fours and a six.
The 29-year old Ramdin, however, did not give up and continued the onslaught. He forged a 62-run stand with Jason Holder for the sixth wicket.
Earlier, in-form Unmukt Chand smashed a fine century to guide India ‘A’ to a competitive 282.
The Delhi lad scored 101 off 111 deliveries. His 192 minutes stay at the crease yielded eight fours and three sixes.
The visitors, however, wrested back the momentum with some good bowling towards the later stages of the innings by picking up quick wickets to restrict India ‘A’ to 282.
Opting to bat, opener Murali Vijay looked in good touch and made a 22-ball 21. His innings was laced with four fours before he was caught behind while trying to slash a Jason Holder delivery.
Chand, who scored an unbeaten 79 in the previous match, looked a bit tentative initially but later on unleashed a flurry of boundaries.
He was ably supported by 22-year old Karun Nair and the duo stitched a 124-ball 149 run stand for the second wicket.
Nair made 64 off 63 balls with four sixes and an equal number of fours. He was caught at backward point off Kemar Roach.
Chand capitalised on a reprieve given to him when he was on 94 to score the century. The 21-year old was dropped by Kemar Roach at short-fine leg off Ravi Rampaul. His knock ended when he was castled by a yorker from Taylor.
Taylor was the pick of the bowler for West Indies with three wickets for 51 runs, while Rampaul, Roach and Kieron Pollard grabbed two wickets a piece.
For the West Indies side, Lendl Simmons, who has a back problem was replaced by Jermaine Blackwood, while it was interesting to see coach Stuart Williams as a part of the playing XI in place of Darren Bravo.
