India A eye an encore

Their confidence on high after the comprehensive win in the opener, India A would look to seal the three-match unofficial ODI series against West Indies A in the second 50-over game between the two sides at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Tuesday.

Skipper Yuvraj Singh stole the limelight with a breathtaking century to guide India A to a thumping 77-run win over the visitors in the opening match of the series yesterday, and come Tuesday the hosts would be looking for an encore.

All eyes were trained on on Yuvraj yesterday after he was handed a lifeline to return to the ODI team by being named captain of the India A team. And the dashing left-hander grabbed the opportunity with both hands and staked his claim for a national berth by scoring a brutal 89-ball 123 against the hapless Caribbeans in the opening match. Yuvraj produced a sensational exhibition of strokeplay by hitting eight fours and seven sixes in his scintillating innings to help India raise 312 for four after being put to bat in the match which was reduced to 42-over-a-side affair due to two-hour delayed start on account of wet outfield.

India ‘A’ then bowled out the visitors for 235 in 39.1 overs, giving the home side a 1-0 lead in the series. India A, a team on a roll after the cleansweep against New Zealand A, would be hoping to carry on the winning momentum in their future matches. During his dazzling knock yesterday, Yuvraj shared two hundred runs partnerships with Mandeep Singh (67) and Yusuf Pathan (70) not out), who played perfect second fiddle to the left-hander.

Just like Yuvraj, Yusuf -- who is also looking for a comeback to the ODI team -- displayed his attacking skills and tore apart the West Indies bowling attack to score his runs off just 32 balls with the help of four boundaries and six hits over the fence. who played perfect second fiddle to the left-hander. Just like Yuvraj, Yusuf -- who is also looking for a comeback to the ODI team -- displayed his attacking skills and tore apart the West Indies bowling attack to score his runs off just 32 balls with the help of four boundaries and six hits over the fence.

The quartet of Vinay Kumar, Sumit Narwal, Rahul Sharma and Yusuf Pathan scalped two wickets apiece to bowl out West Indies A for 235 runs. And Yuvraj would be expecting similar performances from his bowlers. The West Indies A, on the other hand, who performed well during their home series  will look for improvement.