The Hindu : India 'A' squeaks past Lancashire

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 15, 2003

Sport

Sport - Cricket

India 'A' squeaks past Lancashire

By P. Subramanyam

London July 14. India `A' defeated Lancashire County Cricket Club by one wicket in a one-day game at Blackpool on Sunday.

The Indians should have won easily after having dismissed eight Lancashire batsmen cheaply, but complicated the issue by letting the ninth-wicket pair put on a century partnership.

Later on, a poor batting display by the top order forced the Indians to wait in uncertainty until the end, when Irfan Pathan (19 not out) and Avishkar Salvi (20 not out) bravely put on 37 runs — the largest partnership in the Indian innings — for the 10th wicket to settle the issue.

Lancashire, put in to bat, lost eight wickets for just 61 runs, with four of its batsmen failing to score. Irfan Pathan captured two quick wickets, while L. Balaji, in an inspired initial burst, captured three wickets for only one run in three overs.

The situation was remedied by a stubborn stand of 130 runs by former Test leg-spinner C.P. Schofield (69 not out) and G.I. Maiden (62) for the ninth wicket. Schofield, who came in at number six, faced 93 balls, in which he hit only five 4s.

However, tail-ender Maiden's enterprising innings contained two 6s and three 4s in 84 balls. Lancashire was eventually dismissed for 191.

In reply, India lost six wickets for only 88. R. Vijay Bharadwaj (23), A.T. Rayudu (21) and skipper Hemang Badani (20) offered some resistance before Pathan's and Salvi's heroics save the day. For Lancashire, S.T. Mahmood took three for 28, while J. Wood, O.J. Newby and Maiden took two wickets each.

The scores: Lancashire CC 191 in 47 overs (C.P. Schofield 69 n.o., G.I. Maiden 62, I.K. Pathan four for 19, L. Balaji three for 37, A. Salvi three for 38) lost to India `A 192 for nine in 44.4 overs (S.T. Mahomood three for 28).

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