Indian Batsmen Make Their Case As Finn Suffers Injury

Indian Batsmen Make Their Case As Finn Suffers Injury

Yuvraj Singh made 59 in 80 balls before being dismissed for India 'A' against the touring England side

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India 'A' 369-9 (Tiwary 93) v England XI
Tour game, Mumbai, day one

Manoj Tiwary's stock grew most among the host of Indian batsmen bidding to earn a spot in the Test line-up as India 'A' closed day one of their tour game against England on 369 for nine.

Tiwary stroked 93 in 150 balls and while Tim Bresnan and Graeme Swann took three wickets apiece, there was an injury worry for England as Steven Finn failed to make it through the day, and was sent off for scans on a suspected hamstring problem.

Bresnan got England off to a good start by running out Murali Vijay for seven and then having Ajinkya Rahane caught by Kevin Pietersen for four.

Abhinav Mukund (73) and Yuvraj Singh (59) then joined forces to frustrate the tourists, both men batting fluently as Yuvraj hit four sixes, looking to get after the bowling and lay down his own marker ahead of the opening Test.

Swann dismissed both and when Samit Patel had captain Suresh Raina caught by Ian Bell for 20, England could have been forgiven for thinking that they were themselves likely to have a bat before stumps were drawn, India A struggling a little at 168 for five.

Tiwary - with eight ODI and three T20I appearances behind him, but as yet no Test cap in his locker - then rescued the situation with a composed innings, hitting 12 fours. He was given excellent support by Irfan Pathan, whose 46 occupied 83 deliveries and then Ranganath Vinay Kumar, who made 25 not out.

Tiwary fell seven runs short of a century when Bresnan (3-59) bowled him. After James Anderson trapped Wriddhaman Saha in front for 20, Pathan fell to Swann (3-90) and England's final breakthrough came when Ashok Dinda was bowled by Bresnan without scoring.

Finn had got through just four overs before having to leave the field and his departure is an obvious concern, coming so soon after England's arrival. Nevertheless, Graham Onions is a capable back-up and should the injury prove serious, there is ample time for a replacement to be flown out to India and acclimatise ahead of the opening game in Ahmedabad, which begins on 15th November.

© Cricket World 2012