Sunil Ambris warms up for India Tests with rapid century

The home team batted first in the two-day warm-up game in Vadodara, scoring 360/6 before declaring – Ankit Bawne scored a century, while Mayank Agarwal and Shreyas Iyer made half-centuries.

In response, the Windies were off to a solid start on the second day of the game on Sunday, 30 September through Brathwaite and Kieran Powell, the openers. Brathwaite retired out for 52, while Powell walked off for 44.

Shimron Hetmyer and Roston Chase were then dismissed for single-digit scores, both falling to Avesh Khan, the 21-year-old pacer. Dowrich played a counter-attacking innings, hitting nine fours and a six to score 65 from 69 balls, staging a 99-run stand with Shai Hope. Hope was dismissed for a patient 36.

Ambris then took centre stage, dominating the bowling with a flurry of boundaries. In his 98-ball stay, he struck 17 fours and five sixes to score a quick 114 before stumps were drawn.

Ambris, who has only played two Tests to date without notable success, will look to carry the form into the two-Test series, starting in Rajkot on 4 October.

As for the Windies bowlers, Devendra Bishoo and Shannon Gabriel were most impressive, the former claiming 3/104 in 21 overs with his leg-spin and the fast bowler taking 2/41 from eight overs.

They were up against a strong batting line-up featuring Test squad members like Prithvi Shaw, Mayank Agarwal and Hanuma Vihari. Shaw and Vihari were dismissed for single-digit scores, but Agarwal proved his mettle with a fluent 90.

Captain Karun Nair had been dismissed for 29, but Shreyas Iyer scored a brisk 61, and was involved in a 113-run partnership with Bawne. The latter continued on to get past his century, reaching 116 when the innings was declared.

Avesh Khan caused most trouble for the Windies with the ball, taking 4/60.