Compton Stakes Claim After Patel, Panesar Impress

Compton Scores Half-Century After Patel, Panesar Impress

With injuries to key bowlers and reserve batsmen in the runs, there is plenty for coach Andy Flower (left) and captain Alastair Cook to discuss ahead of the opening Test

©REUTERS / Action Images

England XI 345-9 dec. & 149-2 drew with
Mumbai A 286 (Shah 92, Patel 3-44)
Tour game, Mumbai
Day One | Day Two

England drew the second of three tour games ahead of the first Test against India which begins on 15th November, closing day three against Mumbai A on149 for two in their second innings - 208 runs ahead.

There were runs for Jonathan Bairstow and Nick Compton and although bowlers Monty Panesar and Samit Patel also impressed, England lost Stuart Broad to a heel injury.

Following Steven Finn suffering a thigh strain in their opening game against India A, England have called up Surrey's Stuart Meaker as cover for their fast bowlers.

England rallied the ball to dismiss Mumbai A for 286 - a fine effort seeing as the home side had been largely untroubled in closing day two on 232 for four.

The absence of Broad offered Graham Onions (2-57) an opportunity to put his name forward for selection but it was spinners Patel, Panesar and Joe Root who did the bulk of the damage.

Patel returned three for 44, Panesar three for 64 with Root chipping in with the wicket of Shikhar Dhawan. Cheteshwar Pujara (87) and Hiken Shah (92) were the batsmen around which Mumbai built their innings.

Root then made 24 in 40 balls before misjudging one from Shardul Thakur to be trapped leg before playing no stroke. That handed Compton the chance to move ahead of his younger rival in the battle to open alongside Alastair Cook in the Tests and he eked out an unbeaten 62 in 162 balls - an innings containing just six fours.

Jonathan Trott scored 30 in 70 balls and Ian Bell made 28 not out in 42 balls as England closed on 149 for two.

In their first innings, Bairstow made 118, Eoin Morgan 76 and Patel 60. So far on the tour, it has been the senior batsmen - with the exception of Matthew Prior - who have lagged behind their younger colleagues but England will be more than happy to see several player adapting to conditions quickly and putting established players under pressure.

England's final warm-up match against Haryana begins on 8th November.

© Cricket World 2012