Mumbai desk, June 23: Former West Indies international Suliemann Benn put up an all-round show as the Caribbean A side edged the visiting India A team by three wickets in the first T20 match played between the two sides. After helping his side bowl the visitors out for 130 with a three-wicket haul, Benn hit an unbeaten 17, including consecutive sixes in the last over, to help West Indies to get to 131 with three wickets in hand.

In a match reduced to an 18-overs-a-side contest due to rain, the Indian innings would have folded for a much lower score had it not been for Rohit Sharma’s 36-ball 52. Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan added 49 for the second wicket before Benn’s three wickets in the same over (15th) derailed the innings. Paceman Jason Holder also took three wickets in the last over to keep the visitors down to 130.

Despite the sub-par total, the visitors made a fight of the contest. Medium-pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar kept the West Indies side on a tight leash with his incisive bowling that reduced the visitors to 55 for three in 8.4 overs. Rohit Sharma’s double strike off consecutive deliveries in the 16th over also appeared to give India the edge at the climax.

Yet, with the hosts needing 15 off the last over, Benn smote Bhuvenshwar Kumar for consecutive sixes off the first two balls to help his team snatch an unlikely win.

The second and final T20 contest between the two sides will be played on June 24 at the same venue – Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain.

Brief scores: West Indies A 131/7 in 17.4 overs (Jonathan Carter 35, Sulieman Benn 17*, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 3/25) beat India A 130/10 in 18.0 overs (Rohit Sharma 52, Sulieman Benn 3/24) by three wickets

Man-of-the-match: Sulieman Benn for his all-round performance; 4-0-24-3 and 17* off six deliveries