Tiwary misses ton but makes a point

Manoj Tiwary and Irfan Pathan put 110-run partnership for the seventh wicket ensured that India 'A' had a competitive total to bowl at and end the day at 369-9. (AP Photo)

MUMBAI: Chief selector Sandeep Patil wasn't present at the CCI on Tuesday, the first day of the three-day warm-up tie between India 'A' and England, but he would have been told by colleagues Vikram Rathour, Rajinder Singh Hans, Saba Karim and Roger Binny about how disappointed they were with the effort of some of the boys and how happy they were with the application and fight shown by Manoj Tiwary and Irfan Pathan.

While it was a tale of missed opportunity for M Vijay, Ajinkya Rahane and Suresh Raina, there were others who grabbed the chance to impress the selectors ahead of the November 5 selection meeting for the first Test that begins in Ahmedabad on November 15.

Abhinav Mukund (73, 83 balls, 16x4), Yuvraj Singh 59 (80 balls, 7x4, 4x6), Tiwary 93 (150 balls, 12x4) and Irfan Pathan 46 (83balls, 5x4, 2x6) were the guys with the tick marks. Especially Tiwary and Pathan. They came together with the team precariously placed at 190 for 6 and with the visitors sensing a kill.

Their 110-run seventh wicket alliance ensured that India 'A' had a competitive total to bowl at and end the day at 369-9 to give England plenty of worries as their pace bowlers generally struggled to get any reverse swing in tailor-made conditions even if James Anderson and Tim Bresnan weren't too far off the mark. The visitors will also sweat over the fitness of pacer Steven Finn, who walked off the field after just four overs, with a thigh strain.

The men who matter should be chuffed with the knock of Tiwary though. After Laxman's retirement, here is another batsman who can bat with the tail and also play wristy strokes to hit the gaps. His ability to chip the spinners over the infield was seen only in domestic cricket so far. On Tuesday, he did it against an international side. It was a travesty that he couldn't get his hundred, falling to a beauty by Bresnan seven shy off the mark.

England had their share of good performances too. Graeme Swann, undoubtedly the best off-spinner in the business along with Saeed Ajmal, performed true to reputation and his marathon spell of 15-4-57-2 from the Churchgate end was an exhibition of how a spinner should bowl on a Day 1 track. Swann troubled bunny Raina from round the wicket and the pressure he exerted on the lefty enabled Samit Patel to dismiss him cheaply for 20. It was a soft dismissal as the batsman charged and just offered a dead bat with the ball ballooning to Ian Bell at short leg. It was Bell's second catch, having earlier pouched a blinder to dismiss a well set Mukund.

Mukund seems a reincarnation of former India opener S Ramesh. His feet don't move much, but like Ramesh, he has the heart to play out tough spells. The Tamil Nadu opener endured a nervy start where he played and missed a lot and inside-edged a few. He was also involved in the run out of opening partner Vijay. But he got through and went on to play an innings of style and substance. Some of his cover driving and stroke play through mid-wicket and mid-on was eye-catching.

And what of Yuvraj? Was he still batting in the Duleep Trophy semifinal for North Zone against Central at Hyderabad? Benefiting from a dropped chance off the first ball when Patel grassed a tough one, diving forward at square leg off Bresnan, Yuvraj went on to play an impact innings. He defended solidly and was terrific in the 'V'. Every delivery that was pitched up was driven sans violence, but not without timing and beauty. He hit four sixes too, two each off Patel and Swann.

A problem of plenty is a happy one to have. The Indian selectors have that at the moment.

Scoreboard

India 'A' (I Innings): Abhinav Mukund c Bell b Swann 73, Murali Vijay (run out) 7, Ajinkya Rahane c Pietersen b Bresnan 4, Yuvraj Singh st Prior b Swann 59, Suresh Raina c Bell b Patel 20, Manoj Tiwary b Bresnan 93, Wriddhiman Saha lbw Anderson 20, Irfan Pathan lbw Swann 46, Vinay Kumar (batting) 25, Ashok Dinda b Bresnan 0, Parvinder Awana (batting) 11. Extras (B-1, LB-9, W-1) 11. Total (for 9 wkts in 90 overs) 369.

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Tiwary misses ton but makes a point

Dengan url

http://kacangajaibkedelai.blogspot.com/2012/10/tiwary-misses-ton-but-makes-point.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Tiwary misses ton but makes a point

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Tiwary misses ton but makes a point

sebagai sumbernya