The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Parthiv, Chopra hit hundreds, put India ‘A’ in command

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Parthiv, Chopra hit hundreds, put India ‘A’ in command

Special Correspondent

Badrinath looking good for a big score; Shoddy fielding display by the South Africans

NEW DELHI: Parthiv Patel continued his dream form for a free-stroking 110 and Aakash Chopra put behind an agonisingly slow start on way to a fortuitous century as India ‘A’ reached a commanding position on the opening day of the first ‘Test’ against South Africa ‘A’ at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground here on Thursday.

India ‘A’ ended the day at 354 for four even after losing two wickets at 13 in the eighth over and the other two in the space of six runs in the second session.

The failure of opener Cheteshwar Pujara, the second-ball duck of skipper Mohammad Kaif and the early exit of Manoj Tiwary did not hurt India ‘A’ due to the two century-stands that involved Chopra.

Parthiv smashed his fourth century for India ‘A’ in recent times and in the company of a struggling Chopra put on 159 runs for the third wicket before being run out. Parthiv’s aggressive knock that came off just 118 deliveries dotted with 17 boundaries was in sharp contrast to Chopra’s laborious effort.

Having hit a century in the first ‘Test’ against Zimbabwe Select XI and two more against host Kenya in the three-nation one-day series, Parthiv was expected to consolidate his claims and the wicketkeeper-batsman came up with a delightful showing.

Cashing in

Coming in at the fall of Kaif, who played too much across and was adjudged leg-before, Parthiv wasted no time in proving that neither the attack nor the pitch held any terrors. Dropped when on 10, Parthiv raced away to his half-century by making the medium pacers look most ordinary on a typically batsman-friendly Kotla pitch.

Once spin was introduced in the 21st over, Parthiv smashed four successive boundaries off Justin Ontong and went on to score a well-deserved century.

In contrast to the ease with which Parthiv played, Chopra struggled to find the gaps and rotate the strike.

It took two dropped catches in the space of three deliveries for him to produce an innings of character.

Missed chances

The Delhi opener, when on 19, offered two catches off Ontong. Wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile floored a sharp chance before Hashim Amla, at mid-on, badly misjudged Chopra’s desperate heave off a full toss.

An understandably shaken Chopra went to lunch at 27 off 94 deliveries. He improved his scoring in the second session, after the arrival of a confident S. Badrinath by scoring 52 off 96 balls, and adding another 58 off 96 deliveries in the final session. Once Chopra got back his confidence, he appeared a different player. So far, he has hit a six besides 15 boundaries and looks good for more when he resumes his innings at137.

Attacking knock

Badrinath, dropped by Ashwell Prince at gully off Charl Langeveldt on 10, went on to flay the South African attack. He has so far smashed a six and eight boundaries in his unconquered 77. During the unfinished 176-run stand, Badrinath has looked most impressive. Besides some lovely drives and delectable cuts, he came up with deft placements on either side of the pitch.

The scores: India ‘A’ — 1st innings: C. Pujara c Tsolekile b Wet 8, A. Chopra (batting) 137, M. Kaif lbw b Wet 0, Parthiv (run out) 110, M. Tiwary c Amla b Kleinveldt 2, S. Badrinath (batting) 77; Extras (b-3, lb-5, nb-11, w-1) 20; Total (for four wkts. in 89 overs) 354.

Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-13, 3-172, 4-178.

South Africa ‘A’ bowling: Langeveldt 16-6-24-0, Wet 17-2-56-2, Kleinveldt 16-3-70-1, Ontong 15-0-91-0, Coetsee 23-2-96-0, Amla 2-0-9-0.

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