Photo: Shreyas Iyer/ Instagram

Shreyas Iyer was the star of the show in India A’s first fifty over game in their tour to the West Indies, top-scoring with a clinical 77 runs that helped his side get over the line in a low scoring affair against the hosts at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua. He was awarded the man of the match award for managing to score a neat half century on a day no other batsman got over 45 runs.

Batting first, the India A side found themselves in a spot of bother as they were 22/3 by the eighth over with Shreyas Iyer and Hanuma Vihari just come into bat. However, the duo stabilized the innings as they added 95 runs for the fourth wicket, getting the visitors back in the game.

Iyer played the role of the aggressor, taking calculated risks in that partnership to keep the scoring rate steady as he showed his class by getting a fifty on a difficult batting surface. The 24-year-old, who captains NaMo Bandra Blasters in the T20 Mumbai league, smashed eight fours and a splendid six in his innings of 77 runs, before he was unfortunately run out by Rovman Powell.

That wicket triggered an Indian collapse, as opposition captain Roston Chase demolished the Indian tail by picking up four quick wickets to restrict their score to 190. Despite a slightly under par score, the India A bowlers managed to hit their mark immediately, with Khaleel Ahmed picking up three top-order wickets. The spinners too got into the act with all three picking up two wickets each, as the West Indies A batting folded at 125.

Despite a quality bowling performance, it was former India A captain Shreyas Iyer who was adjudged man of the match for his fighting knock of 77 runs; and rebuilding the batting attack following a top-order collapse. The win sees India A take a lead in the lead in the series with the second game now scheduled to be played on the 14^th of July.