Friday, June 2, 2006

by Jonathan Gaskin

ST JOHN'S, Antigua (AFP): India's batsmen confirmed that they could be their side's strength during the upcoming Tests against West Indies, when four of them reached half-centuries as the tour match with Antigua and Barbuda ended in a predictable draw on Wednesday.

Replying to the home team's first innings total of 300, India reached 311 for nine when stumps were drawn on the second and last day of the match at the Police Recreation Ground on the outskirts of the capital.

Venkatsai Laxman led the way for the visitors with nine fours in 72 from 122 balls in close to three and a half hours of batting.

Mahendra Dhoni supported with an unbeaten 60, Mohammed Kaif scored 53 before he retired, and opener Wasim Jaffer made 52. Laxman and Jaffer had carried India to through to 33 for one the previous evening and consolidated their side's position with a stand of 66 for the second wicket.

Jaffer was run out after he struck eight boundaries from 98 balls in 1-3/4 hours, and Indian skipper Rahul Dravid quickly followed for five to leave the tourists on 96 for three.

Kaif arrived and added 98 for the fourth wicket with Laxman before the latter was caught close to the wicket, and Kaif chose the same time to retire his innings.

The wickets of Suresh Raina for four and Yuvraj Singh for 20 left India on 227 for seven, but Dhoni entered and played a typically cavalier knock to rally the lower order.

The Indian wicketkeeper/batsman slammed eight fours and one six from 78 balls in one and three quarter hours to take India past the target that had been set by the Antiguans.

Justin Athanaze was the most successful Antiguan bowler with three wickets for 79 runs from 21 overs.

India face West Indies in four Tests. The series opens on Friday at the Antigua Recreation Ground here, and the other three are to be contested at Gros Islet (June 10-14), Basseterre (June 22-26), and Kingston (June 30-July 4).

Brief scores:
Antigua and Barbuda 300 (Sylvester Joseph 128 not out, Greg Skepple 35, Daniel Thomas 30; Shantha Sreesanth 3-46, Munaf Patel 2-39).

India 311 for nine (Venkatsai Laxman 72, Mahendra Dhoni 60 not out, Mohammed Kaif 53, Wasim Jaffer 52; Justin Athanaze 3-79, Anthony Martin 2-67).

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