Gayle strikes fifty before WI draw with UPCA

Kolkata, Nov 2: The West Indies' practice match against the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association ended in a draw today but Chris Gayle got some runs under his belt ahead of the two-Test series against India with an entertaining half century on the third and final day here.

Gayle, who had a muted outing in the first innings, slammed a 49-ball 58 studded with 11 boundaries, while Marlon Samuels was more aggressive with an identical score (47b; 9x4, 1x6).

The touring West Indies were 199/5 in 37 overs in their second essay when both the captains mutually agreed for a draw, 20 minutes before schedule on the final day.

UPCA captain Piyush Chawla, who returned wicketless in the Windies first innings, claimed an impressive 4/72 in the second innings.

Resuming the day at 206/5, the UPCA had it easy and the Windies put up a sloppy display on the field as Chawla declared their first innings at 372/9.

The highlight of the UPCA innings was Parvinder Singh's 112 (17x4, 2x6) in a 57-run partnership with Amir Khan who benefited hugely from the Windies profligacy to put up 47.

Just in the third over of the day, Khan on 4, was bowled by a Tino Best no-ball before he got a second reprieve on 13 with the Windies pacer once again proving lucky for the UPCA batsman, only this time dropping a catch from Veerasammy Permaul's bowling.