Johnson misses out again

HUBLI – West Indies A squandered a good start against India A and collapsed to 268 all out on the first day of their third unofficial cricket Test match at the Hubli Cricket Ground here yesterday.
Leon Johnson for the second time missed out on a century when he fell for 81 but led a top order effort that placed West Indies A in a comfortable position of 240 for five before the last five wickets fell for only  28 runs.
Coming to the crease after opener Kraigg Brathwaite was out for one off 20 balls in the day’s seventh over, Johnson, who fell nine runs short of a century in the last match, batted responsibly before he was fourth out. He struck 15 fours in a 148-ball knock which lasted 214 minutes.
He was dropped on 51 and was eventually trapped lbw to medium pacer Abhishek Nayar, who finished with four wickets for 61 runs.
Johnson shared in a 70-run third-wicket partnership with fellow Guyanese left-hander Narsingh Deonarine,  who hit six fours in a knock of 35.
Deonarine’s demise ended an enterprising stand as he chased after three successive deliveries from Nayar and managed to edge the third.
Johnson had also teamed up with Assad Fudadin to help stabilize the West Indies innings including a phase  during which only one boundary was hit in six successive overs.
Fudadin fell for 47 after going for a back-foot drive off Dhawal Kulkarni and edging to second slip. He batted for 142 minutes and faced 95 balls.
The post-tea interval saw a steady procession of batsmen returning to the dressing room as the last seven wickets fell, with fast medium bowler Kulkarni ending with three for 60.
At the close India A were 10 without loss. (CMC)