Half-centuries for VVS Laxman and Dinesh Mongia were the highlights as India warmed up in cautious fashion for their Test series against India.

A draw with West Indies A was already looking the most likely outcome as India, having won the toss, batted through the day at a rate of 2.82 to reach 253 for seven.

Laxman, captaining the side in the absence of Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid, hit 85 from 132 deliveries, with nine fours.

Mongia, who heard from India's selectors during the day that he could stay for the rest of the tour but would not be considered for the Tests, top-scored with 87.

The pair added 86 for the third wicket and, once Laxman had been caught off Chris Gayle, and Sanjay Bangar also fell to the spinner for a duck, Mongia consolodated with Ajay Ratra.

The fifth wicket pair added 71 but Mongia's dismissal, bowled by left-arm slow bowler Ryan Hinds, was followed by two further wickets for the addition of 21 runs.

Ratra managed 15 before being trapped lbw by Reon King - the fast bowler's only victim - and new arrival Parthiv Patel was bowled by marlson Black to finish the day.

India gave openers Shiv Das and Wasim Jaffer, as well as Bangar and wicket-keeper Patel their first appearances of the tour.

But Jaffer looked out of touch as he scratched around for an hour to make five at the start of play before paceman Marlon Black had him caught behind by Keith Hibbert.

Das faced 112 balls for his 29 before becoming Hinds' first victim of the day.

India: S S Das, W Jaffer, V V S Laxman (Capt), D Mongia, S B Bangar, M Kaif, A Ratra (Wkt), P A Patel, A B Agarkar, Harbhajan Singh, T Yohannan.

West Indies A: D Ganga (Capt), D S Smith, D J Pagon, L M P Simmons, R O Hinds, D J Bravo, C H Gayle, K H Hibbert (Wkt), J J C Lawson, M I Black, R D King.

Umpires: N J Llong and N A Mallender