Mumbai, Jun 4: Rohit Sharma continued his good run with the bat after a strong domestic season and a good showing in the IPL as he helped India A take a 25-run lead against West Indies A in the first-class encounter between the two sides. Sharma hit 94 on Day 2 of the Kensington Oval four-day game, which helped India to a score of 277 in their first innings.

Having dismissed West Indies A for 252 in their first innings on Day 1, the Indian openers – Abhinav Mukund and Shikhar Dhawan – made their way to the middle at the start of Day 2. However, the visitors had an ordinary start as they lost Mukund (0), No. 3 batsman Ajinkya Rahane (0) and Dhawan (9) early in the morning session.

Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit then rescued the Indians' innings with a 93-run stand that took the visitors’ score from 21 for three to 114 for four. Pujara reached 50 before he edged a delivery from pacer Jonathan Carter to wicketkeeper Devon Thomas. Bengal batsman, Manoj Tiwary, then joined Rohit in the middle and the two put on 72 runs for the fifth wicket. Tiwary made a brisk 40 off 46 deliveries and was the fifth Indian wicket to fall when he was trapped lbw by Jason Holder.

Sharma, whose 159-ball 94 was studded with 10 fours and three sixes, fell shortly after the visitors had gone past the 200-run mark. The Indian batsman fell to a superb in-swinging delivery from left-arm pacer Delorn Johnson, who shattered Rohit’s stumps coming around the wicket.

Jonathan Carter then took three quick wickets to reduce the visitors to 231 for nine. A spirited last-wicket stand between Bengal teammates Wriddhiman Saha and Ashok Dinda, nevertheless, took India to 277 thereby giving them a 25-run first innings lead. Saha (56 off 92 deliveries) was the last man to fall while Dinda (8* off 22 balls) remained unbeaten. For West Indies, Jonathan Carter was the pick of the bowlers; the medium pacer finishing with figures of five for 63.

West Indies A were three for no loss in their second innings when stumps were finally called.