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BANGALORE, Oct 6: Ramnaresh Sarwan completed a rare century as the West Indies go into the opening Test against India in a better frame of mind after a solid batting performance in a drawn tour match here Sunday.
The talented 22-year-old batsman, without a hundred after 24 Tests, scored 140 as the tourists reached 606-4 in reply to Indian Board President’s 275-8 declared on the last day of a three-day game at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
The middle-order Guyanese batsman smashed one six and 18 fours in only his seventh first-class century in 87 matches before retiring in order to give his team-mates a chance to gain batting practice ahead of a three-Test series.
Sarwan, 93 overnight, was the second West Indian to hit a hundred after Wavell Hinds’s 147 on Saturday.
Skipper Carl Hooper (67), Ryan Hinds (74) and wicket-keeper Ridley Jacobs (50 not out) also made the most of the host’s toothless attack in the only practice match before the first Test, starting at Mumbai Wednesday.
BOARD PRESIDENT’S XI (1st Innings) 275-8 declared (D. Mongia 101 not out, H.K. Badani 67).
WEST INDIES (1st Innings, overnight 341-2):
C.H. Gayle c Kaif b Sarandeep 62
W.W. Hinds lbw b Kartik 147
R.R. Sarwan retired 140
S. Chanderpaul c Patel b Balaji 25
C.L. Hooper c Patel b Kartik 67
R.O. Hinds retired 74
R.D. Jacobs not out 50
M.V. Nagamootoo not out 3
EXTRAS (B-17, LB-8, NB-13) 38
TOTAL (for four wkts,) 606
FALL OF WKTS: 1-128, 2-278, 3-350, 4-435.
DID NOT BAT: M. Dillon, P.T. Collins, J.J.E. Lawson.
BOWLING: Bangar 17-3-59-0; Balaji 24-6-58-1 (4nb); Sarandeep Singh 36-4-119-1 (2nb); Yohannan 26-2-103-0 (1nb); Kartik 31-7-92-2 (6nb); Mishra 26-4-114-0; Badani 11-2-21-0; Kaif 5-1-15-0.
RESULT: Match drawn.—AFP/Reuters
