Johnson bowls India out for 94, Windies win by 125 runs

Kingstown (St Vincent): Two left-armers, medium-pacer Delorn Johnson (6 for 34) and spinner Veerasammy Permaul (4 for 22) bowled West Indies A to a 125-run victory over India A to level the series 1-1 on the the second 'Test's final day here at Arnos Vale Tuesday.

West Indies needed just an hour and eight minutes on the final day to steamroll India A's highly touted batting line-up and record a massive victory.

The hosts claimed the last six wickets for 37 runs as India, resuming the day on 57 for four in pursuit of 220 for victory, were bundled out for a paltry 94 runs to give the home side an impressive victory on an action-packed morning at Arnos Vale.

Johnson, who bowled with great pace and bounce, took two wickets in the morning to end with a career-best six for 34 off 17 overs.

Permaultook four for 22 - all four wickets coming on the final morning, as the experienced Indians looked at sea.

Permaul, who took five for 58 in the first innings, ended with nine wickets in the match. He also made a vital 36 at number nine in the West Indies first innings to earn the Man of theMatch award.

Johnson, playing on his home ground with family cheering him on, ended with eight wickets in the match, following his first innings burst of two for 28.

"It feels really good to get this win. We played well and when you play well you deserve some success," said Permaul.

"India have a 'big' batting line-up with guys who are well known in the IPL, but we knew once we worked hard and played good cricket over the five days, we could beat them.

"This is a good comeback after the way we lost in Barbados. We felt we should have won there. After that defeat we were a bit down. But we came back here and got it right," said the captain.

"This pitch favours spin, so I backed myself to do well. It was great to see the way Johnno (Johnson) bowled. He gave everything. He never stopped running in."

Once Permaul removed overnight not out batsmen Rohit Sharma (13), Manoj Tiwari (20) and wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha (3) in quick succession, the game was up for India. The tail-enders just went through the motions to finish the game 52 minutes before the break.

Permaul started the day from the Caribbean Sea End at the south and gave the West Indies the perfect start when he bowled Sharma in the day's third over with a ball that shot through.

Two balls later he flummoxed Saha with a clever arm-ball and won an lbw verdict.

Shortly thereafter, Johnson produced a superb out-swinger from around the wicket which Rahul Sharma (3) edged to wicket-keeper Deveon Thomas.

Johnson then used the short ball against Shami Ahmed to good effect. The tail-ender required treatment for a blow on the left hand and later was struck on the body by another quick lifter.

Johnson then produced another bouncer which Ahmed (2) fended to give Thomas his fifth catch of the match.

With the Indians retreating, the end was not far away and it came with little drama. Permaul took the final wicket when Akshay Dareka missed a wild swipe at a flighted delivery and was bowled for eight.

Incidentally, Sharma and Tiwari were the only Indian batsmen to get into the double figures besides extras (14).

Johnson returned with staggering figures of 17-4-36-6 while Permaul had an equally impressive bowling analysis of 9.4-2-22-4.

India had won the first 'Test' at Bridgetown by two wickets and third and final 'Test' begins Saturday at Beausejour Cricket Gorund, Gros Islet in St. Lucia.

Brief Scores:

West Indies A 217 (Kraigg Brathwaite 66, Veerasammy Permaul 36; Shami Ahmed 4-48, Ashok Dinda 2-25, Rohit Sharma 2-31) and 204 (Jonathan Carter 74, Donovan Pagon 67, Kraigg Brathwaite 21; Akshay Darekar 6-67)

India A 202 (Cheteshwar Pujara 67, Rahul Sharma 30, Manoj Tiwary 23, Wriddhiman Saha 20; Veerasammy Permaul 5-58, Delorn Johnson 2-18) and 94 (Manoj Tiwary 20; Delorn Johnson 6-34, Veerasammy Permaul 4-22). (IANS)