Dinesh Mongia relieved to be back in form

Dinesh Mongia was thrilled at ending two frustrating months in the Caribbean with a match-winning 74 at the Kingston Oval on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old watched from the sidelines as India lost the five-Test series 2-1 and only played in a three-day match against a Busta XI side in a tour that began in early April.

"It was very frustrating to sit out for two months when you were dying to get in and play," Mongia said.

"I was very tense before going out to bat today, it was a big game for me."

The left-hander from Punjab hammered nine fours in his 113-ball knock and virtually took the game away from the West Indies, who were struggling to defend 186.

"This is my first big score outside India and that's the most pleasing thing for me," he said.

Mongia had cracked an unbeaten 159 as opener in his last one-day match, against Zimbabwe at Guwahati in March, to lead India to a 3-2 series win.

He had picked up both the man of the match and man of the series awards then.

But he said Wednesday's knock was special.

"We've grown up reading about and watching cricket in the Caribbean," he said. "Some of the biggest names in game have come from the West Indies and it's quite a special feeling to do well here."

Mail Cricket Editor