Mumbai: A 110 runs seventh wicket partnership between Manoj Tiwary and Irfan Pathan propelled India to a convincing 369-9 at stumps on day 1 of the warm-up game between India A and England XI.
Tiwary top scored for India with 93 off 150 balls including 12 fours, while Pathan chipped in with 83 ball 46 laced with five fours and two sixes.
Yuvraj Singh eyeing a comeback in the Test side played a fluent knock off 59 off 80 deliveries including seven fours and four sixes. Opener Abhinav Mukund contributed 73 off 83 including 16 fours at the top of the innings.
Tim Bresnan and Graeme Swann were the wrecker in chief for England with spells of 3-59 and 3-90 respectively.
Earlier electing to bat first, India got off to a woeful start and lost Murali Vijay and number three batsmen Ajinkya Rahane for cheap. It was the partnership between Mukund and Yuvraj that kept the Indian innings on track. They put up 56 runs for the second before
Mukund was out.
His wicket brought skipper Suresh Raina to the crease but he could not stay on the crease for long and was out for 20. Yuvraj and Wriddhiman Saha followed the suit and it was then left to Tiwary and Pathan. They played cautiously to lift India from a spot of danger and take them to a consolidating spot.
Vinay Kumar was on 25 and Parwinder Awana on 11 at the end of day’s play. Meanwhile England received a huge blow after their star bowler Steven Finn limped off the field.
India A 369 for 9 (Tiwary 93, Abhinav 73, Bresnan 3-59, Swann 3-90) v England XI
By Indian Sports News Network
