Pujara slams 306 to put India A on top

Hubli, Oct 11 (IANS) Skipper Cheteshwar Pujara carved out an unbeaten 306 (415b, 33×4) as India A took command of their four-day match against West Indies A, who — trailing by 296 runs on the first innings — were 116 for three at close on the third and penultimate day here Friday.

Pujara, who was 139 overnight, ground the Windies attack that made little impression on the 25-year old Rajkot batsman who made the best of a reprieve in the last over before lunch when on 198 and with the help of the lower-order batsmen helped India to make 506 for 9 declared.

The Windies began their second innings poorly, losing openers Kraigg Brathwaite (21) and skipper Kieran Powell (6) and first innings top-scorer Leon Johnson (1) before Narsingh Deonarine (44 batting) and Assad Fudadin (36 batting) added 59 runs for the unfinished fourth wicket.

Still trailing by 180 runs, the Windies, who lead the three-match series 1-0, face an onerous task to save the game on the morrow.

Brief scores:
West Indies A 268 and 116 for 3 (Kraigg Brathwaite 21, Narsingh Deonarine 44 not out, Assad Fudadin 36 not out) vs India A 564 for 9 decl in 150 overs (Gautam Gambhir 123, Cheteshwar Pujara 306 not out, Virender Sehwag 38, Uday Kaul 26, Ashley Nurse 3 for 106, Nikita Miller 2 for 112, Deonarine 2 for 78).