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BECKENHAM, England (CMC) — Test batsman Jermaine Blackwood struck a typically breezy half-century to help West Indies 'A' battle to a draw against India 'A' on the final day of their four-day “Test” here yesterday.

Asked to chase an improbable 360 for victory after India A carried their second innings to a mammoth 609 for six declared, West Indies ended on 245 for seven at Kent County Ground.

The Caribbean side found themselves in early trouble at 28 for two, but Blackwood hammered a top score of 61 while opener John Campbell carved out 44 and Sunil Ambris, 42, to turn the innings around.

All-rounder Rahkeem Cornwall got his first meaningful score on tour with 40, while wicketkeeper Devon Smith chipped in with 22.

Seamer Navdeep Saini (2-41), left-arm slow Jayant Yadav (2-73) and off-spinner Shahbaz Nadeem (2-81) all ended with two wickets each.

Windies 'A' lost Chanderpaul Hemraj to the seventh delivery of the innings before a run had been scored— bowled by Saini — and when captain Shamarh Brooks also had his stumps rattled by Yadav for nine with the score on 28, the innings was tottering further.

But Blackwood came to his side's rescue, adding 49 for the third wicket with Campbell before putting on a further 66 for the fourth wicket with Ambris.

Good save by the WI A team, but they should not have been in that position, why did they allow the India A team to score so many runs so quickly in a four day match where there are no field placement restrictions. Could it be poor captaincy?

In reply to dayne

Great batting by Blackwood, Campbell, Ambris and Cornwall finally scored some runs.

In reply to Slipfeeler... that's why we need more A Team tours away from home.

"wicketkeeper Devon Smith chipped in with 22"
wicketkeeper Devon Smith?

In reply to dayne

Maybe Brooks needs to captain at a higher level. He has all the prerequisites.

In reply to natty_forever

Agreed more A team and B team tours.