India 'A' beat England by 53 runs in warm-up game

India 'A' provided some cheer amidst disappointing show by the senior team as they comprehensively beat England by 53 runs under the Duckworth/Lewis method in the first warm-up match, being held at the Palam Airforce Ground here today.

Riding on Murali Vijay's 76, India 'A' posted a competitive 224 for four in 39 overs -- which meant the target was revised to 229 under D/L method -- and then skittled the visitors out for 175 in the 36th over.

The match was reduced to a 39-overs-a-side contest due to bad light.

It was a collective effort by the India 'A' team bowlers with comeback man S Sreesanth bowling an impressive first spell in which he removed the dangerous Kevin Pietersen (19) with a short delivery.

With a shorter run-up, Sreesanth worked up lively pace and dug one short when he saw Pietersen trying to give him the charge only to lob it to the mid-on fielder. The celebrations though, after getting KP out, was muted by his standards. The figures of 7-1-16-1 was not bad at all.

Lanky Ishwar Pandey trapped one-down Samit Patel leg before. Offie Jalaj Saxena then picked up stand-in captain Eoin Morgan and Jos Butler in quick succession. With the English batsmen looking uncomfortable against the spinners, they were soon reduced to 72 for six, virtually ending any chance of a comeback.

Although Ian Bell (91) took the attack back to the opposition during his 89-ball knock that contained eight fours and two sixes, he didn't get much support from the other end as Ashok Menaria picked up three wickets.

Talented Jammu and Kashmir all-rounder Parveez Rasool, making his 'A' team debut, then effected the run-out of James Tredwell.

Earlier Vijay smashed a fine 76 as his century-plus opening stand with statemate Abhinav Mukund helped the hosts reach a fighting total.

... contd.

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