Date:05/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/05/stories/2008020551711700.htm

Sport - Cricket

Central takes sizeable first-innings lead

Special Correspondent

Vadodara: Pankaj Singh struck vital blows with the Kookaburra new ball.

Subsequently summoned to bowl a long second spell, he hastened England Lions collapse in four hours and fifteen minutes on the second day of the Duleep Trophy competition at the Motibagh Palace ground here on Monday. The Rajasthan seamer’s remarkable effort fetched him four for 35 which largely paved the way for Central to take a 115-run first innings lead.

Fifteen wickets tumbled and 210 runs were scored, but clearly Central has given itself a chance of beating the visiting side.

The scores:

Central Zone — 1st innings: F. Faiz lbw b Kirby 37, V. Saxena c Foster b Richardson 34, J. Saxena c Foster b Onions 9, M. Kaif b Rashid 64, S. Bangar c Foster b Panesar 29, H. Rawle b Onions 27, M. Rawat c Joyce b Richardson 13, S. Sanyal b Richardson 18, P. Gupta c Foster b Onions 8, Pankaj Singh c (sub) Hildreth b Richardson 11, S. Mathur (not out) 7, Extras (lb-5, nb-8) 13; Total (in 101.4 overs) 270.

Fall of wickets: 1-54, 2-70, 3-124, 4-179, 5-201, 6-223, 7-227, 8-252, 9-256.

England Lions bowling: Onions 26-7-85-3, Richardson 25.4-12-50-4, Kirby 11-3-34-1, Trott 11-2-30-0, Panesar 18-5-49-1, Rashid 10-3-17-1.

England Lions — 1st innings: M. Carberry c Gupta b J. Saxena 35, J. Denly c Rawat b Pankaj Singh 0, M. Yardy c Bangar b Pankaj Singh 5, Ed Joyce lbw b Gupta 24, J. Trott lbw b Gupta 14, J. Foster lbw b Pankaj Singh 18, A. Rashid c Rawat b Sanyal 40, G. Onions c Rawat b Gupta 1, M. Panesar c Rawat b Pankaj Singh 0, S. Kirby (not out) 11, A. Richardson c Kaif b Sanyal 0, Extras (lb-7) 7; Total (in 69 overs) 155.

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-22, 3-66, 4-66, 5-94, 6-110, 7-115, 8-120, 9-155.

Central Zone bowling: Bangar 5-3-9-0, Pankaj Singh 16-9-35-4, Mathur 6-1-25-0, Gupta 23-13-32-3, J. Saxena 12-2-40-1, Sanyal 7-2-7-2.

Central Zone — 2nd innings: F. Faiz b Onions 4, V. Saxena (batting) 19, P. Gupta c Foster b Richardson 0, S. Bangar (batting) 0; Total (for two wkts. in seven overs) 23.

Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-17.

England Lions bowling: Onions 4-2-10-1, Richardson 3-0-13-1.