Mongia is hoping for a Test call-up

Dinesh Mongia rescued the President's XI with a disciplined 101 not out as West Indies began their build-up towards next week's first Test.

After losing both openers early, Hemang Badani (67) and skipper Mohammed Kaif (40) laid the foundations for recovery with a third wicket stand worth 91

But they were outshone by left-hander Mongia, who batted for over three hours and hit three sixes and 12 fours.

He has yet to play Test cricket despite being a one-day regular for India, and it was a timely effort with selectors considering their options.

"I am quite happy. The wicket was playing slow and low. The ball was not coming on to the bat," Mongia commented.

Pacemen Merv Dillon and Jermaine Lawson were the most successful bowlers for West Indies with two wickets each.

Dillon made the early inroads by having Sanjay Bangar caught at third slip for two and following up with the wicket of Gautam Gambhir (11) as the home side made a slow start.

Badani and Kaif were content to accumulate as they rebuilt the innings, but they were separated when West Indies skipper Carl Hooper's off-spin accounted for Kaif.

Left-arm seamer Pedro Collins then bowled Badani to spark a collpase which saw four wickets go down for 28 runs.

The Presidxent's XI were 186 for seven after Lawson dismissed Murali Kartik and Sarandeep Singh in successive overs.

But Mongia found a determined ally in Amit Mishra, who helped add 55 in 11 overs before Kaif made the declaration.

West Indies openers Chris Gayle and Wavell Hinds survived five overs before the close, with Gayle reaching 14 not out and Hinds making five.

President's XI: S Bangar, G Gambhir, H Badani, M Kaif (capt), D Mongia, P Patel, M Kartik, S Singh, A Mishra, T Yohannan, L Balaji.

West Indies: C Gayle, W Hinds, R Sarwan, S Chanderpaul, C Hooper (capt), R Hinds, R Jacobs, M Nagamootoo, M Dillon, P Collins, J Lawson.