McGarry's early strikes put Indians on backfoot

By S. Dinakar

CHENNAI, JAN. 21. Chris Tremlett is 6' 7,'' and Andrew McGarry 6' 4.'' And on a day when there was no outstanding individual performance, the two stood tall with their invaluable contributions.

All-rounder Tremlett's strokeful 61 after his team had lost its way this morning and paceman Andrew McGarry's three- wicket strike later on, provided England with a distinct advantage at the conclusion of day two in the second under-19 Test at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, here, on Sunday.

Replying to England's 399, India was in a spot of bother at 122 for four when stumps were drawn with Ishan Ganda (44, 103b, 5x4) and Kashinath Khadkikar (9) at the crease.

McGarry, easily the quickest bowler in both the sides, castled opener Vinayak Mane with a ball that moved in just a shade leaving the batsman who had shouldered arms startled, and then, after tea, trapped Gyaneswara Rao (30) in front, and off the very next delivery had Alind Naidu nicking a lifting delivery to 'keeper Mark Wallace.

The heat was clearly on India now, and the situation would have been worse for the home team, had Gary Pratt, at short mid- wicket, latched on to Ganda's miscued pull (at 41) off Monty Paneesar. The left-arm spinner was desperately unlucky today, with Gyaneswara Rao too being put down twice (at 5 and 18) off his bowling, by Pratt at short mid-wicket and, skipper Ian Bell, the lone slip.

Earlier, the left-handed opener Gautam Gambhir had driven McGarry exquisitely through the covers, and then pulled the same bowler to the square-leg fence, before slashing at Tremlett, to be caught by John Sadler at point.

The day did not begin too well for England, Pratt (40, 125b, 3x4) falling in the third over, nicking paceman Nitin Agarwal to 'keeper Ajay Ratra.

Agarwal's pace partner, Siddarth Trivedi soon sneaked one through Ian Pattison's defence, and not much later, Wallace's attempt to cut off-spinner Mulewa Dharmichand only resulted in Ratra gleefully pouching the edge. At 312 for six, England had lost some of the advantage.

Muchall (49, 119b, 5x4, 1x6), with Tremlett holding firm at the other end, unleashed a few telling shots that included a huge straight six off Dharmichand, and was looking good for more when substitute Amit Misra's alertness at point ended his tenure. And, Justin Bishop (run-out off a direct hit by Gyaneswar Rao from mid on) and McGarry (caught in front by Agarwal) fell at the same score - 354.

However, Chris Tremlett (61, 130b, 6x4, 2x6), last man Paneesar offering surprising resistance, on-drove Agarwal to the boundary, smashed Ganda, bowling off-spin, over long-off for a six, and reached his half century by clipping Dharmichand beyond the square-leg fence before Khadkikar's running effort at deep cover - Dharmichand being the successful bowler - ended his brave tenure.

Chris had lost his younger brother Alistair in a car accident at Winchester, England, in December, and as his father Tim, also the manager of the team revealed, the incident had affected him deeply. ``We felt that being in India would help take his mind away from the loss,'' Tim said.

The scores:

England under-19 - 1st innings: John Sadler (run out) 22; Nicky Peng c Ishan Ganda b Vidyut 132; Ian Bell c Dharmichand b Ganda 61; Gary Pratt c Ratra b Agarwal 40; Gordon Muchall (run out) 49; Ian Pattison b Trivedi 7; Mark Wallace c Ratra b Dharmichand 6; Chris Tremlett c Khadkikar b Dharmichand 61; Justin Bishop (run out) 0; Andrew McGarry lbw b Agarwal 0; Monty Paneesar (not out) 2; Extras (b-1, lb-1, w-5, nb-12) 19. Total (in 144.2 overs) 399.

Fall of wickets: 1-57, 2-199, 3-251, 4- 290, 5-301, 6-313, 7-354, 8-354, 9-354.

India under-19 bowling: S. Trivedi 16-4- 56-1; N. Agarwal 19-6-46-2; Vidyut 45-12-102-1; M. Dharmichand 39.2-8-126-2; K. Khadkikar 12-2-21-0; I. Ganda 12-1-44-1; G. Gambhir 1-0-2-0.

India under-19 - 1st innings: Gautam Gambhir c Sadler b Tremlett 23; Vinayak Mane b McGarry 12; Ishan Ganda (not out) 44; Gyaneswara Rao lbw b McGarry 30; Alind Naidu c Wallace b McGarry 0; Kashinath Khadkikar (not out) 9; Extras (lb-2, w-2) 4; Total (for four wkts. in 39 overs) 122.

Fall of wickets: 1-33, 2-39, 3-103, 4-103.

England under-19 bowling: McGarry 9-1-28-3; Bishop 9-3-33-0; Tremlett 6-3-10-1; Paneesar 9-2-35-0; Pattison 6-2-14-0.

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