Cook And Patel Partnership Revives England

Cook And Patel Partnership Revives England

Alastair Cook (right) and Samit Patel forged a big partnership for England's fifth wicket as the tourists recovered from losing wickets in the afternoon session

©REUTERS / Action Images

India 'A' 369 (Tiwary 93, Bresnan 3-59) v
England XI 286-4 (Cook 112no, Patel 82no)
Tour game, Mumbai, day two
Day One Report | Finn Out Injured

Captain Alastair Cook led by example with an unbeaten century as England rallied from the loss of quick wickets in the afternoon session to close day two of their tour game against India A in Mumbai on 286 for four.

Replying to the home side's score of 369, they slipped to 133 for four before Cook came together with Samit Patel, who scored a fluent 82 not out, to ensure England finished the day strongly.

Nick Compton's first innings on a full England tour was a brief one, the Somerset man failing to score while Kevin Pietersen (23) and Ian Bell (5) both fell cheaply to Yuvraj Singh.

England began the day by swiftly wrapping up India A's innings as James Anderson trapped Ranganath Vinay Kumar in front for 25 and the home side failed to add any runs to their overnight score.

Anderson finished with two for 65, Tim Bresnan three for 59 and Graeme Swann three for 90 - their hard work having been done on the opening day.

Compton then lasted three balls before he was caught behind by Wriddhaman Saha off Ashok Dinda although England's innings was settled by Cook's 97-run partnership with Jonathan Trott for the second wicket.

Trott made 56 in 95 balls before he was bowled by Suresh Raina and the home team then took control as Yuvraj's left-arm spin first had Pietersen caught and bowled and then Bell caught at slip by Raina. Pietersen faced just 24 balls, hitting three fours and a six.

Cook, meanwhile, continued to bat in his own careful fashion, advancing past a half-century and finally finding a willing ally in Patel.

Patel was the more aggressive of the pair, looking at ease at the crease and as he made his way to 82 in 145 deliveries in 112 balls, Cook closed the day unbeaten on 112 in 251 deliveries, including 13 boundaries as the partnership stretched to 153 by the close.

With no specialist spinners available, Raina used himself, Yuvraj, Manoj Tiwary and even Murali Vijay to take pace off the ball and it was Yuvraj, who returned two for 52 in 16 overs who proved to me his most effective bowler.

Tiwary (93), Yuvraj (59) and Abhinav Mukund (73) all scored half-centuries on the opening day.

© Cricket World 2012