Mumbai, June 12: India A require a further 164 runs to win on the final day of the second Test with six wickets remaining against a spirited West Indies A side. The Indians began day 3 on a positive note with Shami Ahmed dismissing Justin Christopher Guillen (6) early on. Kyle Corbin was the next to go with Akshay Darekar claiming his first wicket of the innings.

The Windies were struggling on 36 for 2 and matters got even worse after Nkrumah Bonner (5) was adjudged lbw off Darekar. The left-arm spin of Darekar was causing the hosts all sorts of problems. First-innings hero Kraigg Brathwaite nicked one to slip to give the 23-year-old his third wicket. The Windies had no answer to Darekar’s guile and spin as Devon Thomas succumbed to yet another arm ball from the left-armer. 81 for 5 and the visitors were going for the kill. But a spirited counter-attack from Jonathan Carter (74) and Donovan Pagon (67) gave the Windies some hope. The attacking duo put up an 86-run partnership to ensure that the Indians didn’t run away with the game. Ashok Dinda dismissed Carter and Darekar induced an edge off Pagon to get back into the contest. Rohit Sharma and Darekar then wrapped up the tail as the Windies were bowled out for 204 with Darekar picking up six wickets.

With 220 runs required for the win, India A were looking to see out the remaining 20 overs left in the day. Ajinkya Rahane was promoted to the opening slot with Abhinav Mukund keeping his place in the top two.

The opening change didn’t work as Delorn Johnson broke through Rahane’s (5) defences with a ball that stayed low. The pitch was difficult and the bowling fiery. Johnson was proving to be a real handful at the Arnos Vale Ground as he dealt India another telling blow. Shikhar Dhawan’s (8) attempted cover drive only resulted in his stumps being shattered. With India two wickets down with just 28 runs on the board, the Windies were well on top. Mukund (8) made matters worse after playing across the line only to be adjudged lbw off Johnson. The 23-year-old pacer struck once again; this time dismissing the visitors’ skipper Cheteshwar Pujara for just one. India A eventually finished the day on 56 for 4 with Johnson finishing with figures of 4 for 20 in 9 overs. Rohit Sharma (8*) and Manoj Tiwary (15*) remained unbeaten on day 3.