VADODARA : Pace bowler Shib Shankar Paul (two for 26) put pressure on England batsmen, fellow new ball bowler Munaf Patel got the wickets (five for 59) for Board President's XI and Ramesh Powar tightened the screws on the visitors with teasing off-spin. Strangely, none the three were as lucky as fast bowler Vikram Raj Vir Singh, barging into the Indian Test squad, after an eventful opening of the tour game at IPCL Stadium.

England, numbed by skipper Michael Vaughan's decision to sit out due to knee pain, was restricted to 238 by a young bowling attack which performed to expectations, a little later than expected, after the visitors had opted to bat.

Munaf, watched by National selectors, tried too hard perhaps aware of the attention on him, V.R.V Singh struggled to work up a rhythm and Paul kept a tight line from the outset (first spell 9-5-7-1) on a batsmen-friendly wicket.

Wasim Jaffer and Gautam Gambhir, under the selectors' spotlight for an opening batsman's slot alongside Virender Sehwag for the Test series, rose to the challenge of sowing doubts in minds of experienced English pace bowlers about adjustments needed on Indian wickets.

BP XI reached 93 for one at stumps, left-handed Jaffer (47 runs, 74 balls, five fours) stroking fluently against bowlers of calibre of Matthew Hoggard, Steve Harmison and Andrew Flintoff on the same IPCL track, which had proved so tough for England batsmen earlier in the day.

Vaughan's absence apart, the England batsmen found it tough to conquer the bowling, expect for a brief Kevin Pietersen offensive in a V.R.V. Singh over which had four boundaries and a six. Pietersen later retired on 47, unable to overcome cramps in searing heat.

Powar, taking over responsibility from over number 25, bowled with guile and control to cramp the tentative batsmen in the England middle-order.

Disparity

The disparity between players' performances and selection proves that National selectors had already made up minds about Board President XI probables to be short-listed for the Test squad.

Munaf, Paul and Powar, who displayed their ability in the only day of play possible before the selection committee meeting, await their turn, while V.R.V. Singh, who had a forgettable day, gets the nod.

Opening batsman Jaffer saved the day with a timely knock against the bewildered visitors for whom Indian selection surprises is of least interest.

England may need reinforcements before the Nagpur Test, with Vaughan and Paul Collingwood (back injury) in the doubtful category.

The scores:

England — 1st innings: M. Trescothick (run out) 18, A. Strauss b Munaf 23, I. Bell c Jaffer b Paul 17, A. Flintoff c Singh b Munaf 1, Kevin Pietersen (retd.) 47, G. Jones b Munaf 46, I. Blackwell c Venugopala b Powar 33, L. Plunkett c Jaffer b Paul 37, M. Hoggard b Munaf 0, S. Harmison b Munaf 4, M. Panesar (not out) 4, Extras (lb-1, nb-9, w-2) 12, Total (in 62.2 overs) 238.

Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-62, 3-64, 4-72, 5-182, 6-232, 7-232, 8-234, 9-238.

BP XI bowling: Munaf Patel 16.2-0-59-5, Vikram Raj Vir Singh 9-1-63-0, Shib Shankar Paul 14-6-26-2, Ramesh Powar 17-3-68-1, Suresh Raina 3-0-14-0, Venugopala Rao 3-2-7-0.

BP XI — 1st innings: G. Gambhir (batting) 33, Wasim Jaffer lbw Blackwell 48. Extras (b-12) 12, Total (for one wkt. in 24 overs) 93.

Fall of wicket: 1-93

England bowling: Hoggard 6-1-29-0, Harmison 5-3-10-0, Flintoff 5-1-20-0, Plunkett 2-0-8-0, Panesar 4-1-8-0, Blackwell 2-0-6-1.

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