Off-spinner Krishnappa Gowtham scalped 6/67 to give India A a slender 7-run lead at the end of two team's first innings in the third unofficial Test against West Indies A in Trinidad. 

However, the home side bounced back to ensure the visitors find themselves at 23/3 in the second innings by the end of play on Day 2. 

Gowtham's spell included a rare hat-trick and allowed the Indians to bundle out Caribbean boys for 194 in response to their own 201 all out in the first foray with the bat. 

He was ably supported at the task by Umesh Yadav (2/29), Avesh Khan (1/34), Shahbaz Nadeem (0/28) and Shivam Dube (1/35) after West Indies A had resumed Day 2 at 23/1. 

Jeremy Solozana (69) and Sunil Ambris (43) played innings of substance for the hosts, while the rest struggled. 

A similar theme followed when India A batted as Priyank Panchal (3), Abhimanyu Easwaran (6) and Mayank Agarwal (5) fell in no time. 

Shubhman Gill (5*) and nightwatchman Shahbaz Nadeem (2*) remain not out overnight. 

India A had reached 201 on Day 1 purely because of two valiant knocks from Hanuma Vihari (55) and Wriddhiman Saha (62). 

The visitors will now be hoping to stretch their lead as far as possible to have a stiff target that would possibly aid a praiseworthy 3-0 whitewash of the hosts. 

(Inputs from PTI)