Bishoo, Carter limit India A to 230

West Indies A began strongly in the series-deciding third unofficial Test in St Lucia, bowling out India A for 230 and then getting to 34 for no loss at stumps on day one. The stars for West Indies were medium-pacer Jonathan Carter and legspinner Devendra Bishoo, who claimed six wickets between them.

Veerasammy Permaul, the West Indies captain, inserted India and the decision paid off early. Quick Delorn Johnson had the out of form Abhinav Mukund edging to second slip for 10 (this was the first time in five innings on the tour that he managed to get into double figures) and Rohit Sharma was bowled, shouldering arms to Carter.

From 32 for 2, Ajinkya Rahane and captain Cheteshwar Pujara began the repair work. They added 46, before Permaul struck just prior to lunch, Rahane edging a delivery that spun and bounced to the keeper. Pujara was run out soon after and India hardly recovered.

The only resistance came from an unlikely quarter, from Jalaj Saxena - an allrounder batting at No. 8. Saxena, playing his first game on the tour, counterattacked, stroking 61 off 59 balls. His innings included 10 fours, and helped India go past the 200-run mark, before Bishoo wrapped up the tail. Kieran Powell and Kraigg Brathwaite then batted out the remaining 14 overs.

Bishoo, who was not picked for the tour to England after taking only one wicket against Australia in Bridgetown in April, said he was relieved to show some form. "It was hard work that got me to the top and I know I have to work hard to get back [into the West Indies side]. It was good to get three wickets today and bowl out India. It's a good pitch for the batsmen, so the fact that we collected all 10 wickets in a day was fantastic for us.

"I'm taking it moment by moment, step by step as I try to work my way back. I have been doing a lot of work away from the scenes as well. I bowl for the entire net session and also put in a lot of overs after the nets have finished."

In this innings, Bishoo said, he laid out plans for each batsman. "I was rushing it a bit in the [first two] matches, but today I slowed things down and it flowed. I concentrated on each ball and tried to set up the batsmen. Things worked well for me and I felt I was in a good groove and in full control of what I was doing."

Johnson leaves India A in trouble

Like the first one, the second unofficial Test between West Indies A and India A in St Vincent was on its way to an exciting finish at the end of the third day. On a day of fluctuating fortunes, it was West Indies who finished on top at stumps, having reduced their opponents to 57 for 4 in a chase of 220. Left-arm seamer Delorn Johnson, who also plays for Windward Islands, picked up all those four wickets, including that of the in-form India captain Cheteshwar Pujara.

West Indies had gained a slender lead on the second day and the objective on the third would have been to set India a challenging target. However, India's bowlers pulled things back after their batsmen had faltered on the second day. India's response was led by left-arm spinner Akshay Darekar, who removed opener Kraigg Brathwaite for 21 and wicketkeeper Devon Thomas in quick succession to leave the hosts at 81 for 5. Brathwaite was caught at slip after another long stay at the crease and Thomas was trapped in front by an arm ball. But Jonathan Carter and Donovan Pagon staged a recovery.

Carter, the Barbados batsman, made 74 off 97 balls, striking six fours while Pagon was more attacking, making 67 off 72, including four sixes. That stand of 81 was brought to an end by Ashok Dinda, but Pagon and the tailenders stretched the lead to 219. Pagon, from Jamaica, has also played two Tests for West Indies. Darekar picked up six wickets.

Though India would have backed themselves to chase the target, they were left worried by the end of the day. Abhinav Mukund continued his poor run this series to be trapped in front while Ajinkya Rahane was bowled by one that kept low. Shikhar Dhawan was bowled while trying to drive and the most valuable wicket of Pujara came when he nicked an inswinging delivery to the wicketkeeper. India were reeling at 30 for 4; their situation was only marginally better when Rohit Sharma and Manoj Tiwary added an unbeaten 27 before stumps. Johnson, deservedly, led his team off the field at the close, having left them with an excellent chance of levelling the series.