India XI Vs SL Board President's XI; Day 2 review
Yuvraj Singh’s aggressive hundred was ruined as India failed to make follow-on mark on the second day of the three day tour match against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/VVS-Laxman-c2772, justified his selection for the tour match and proved that he is all set to take the vacant position in the Lankan spin department after Murali gets retired at the end of the Gale test.
Dhoni already concerned about his bowling department faced an alarming situation from the batting line as well when all his men got out in just 64.2 overs. Injuries have already taken two of his leading pacers, Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth, back to the home while Harbhajan, the spin department’s leader is down with the fever and now when it came to take the bat in the hand, Indian side could play only two sessions of the second day.
Ajantha Mendis and Welegedara came hard on the Indian batsmen and took its early four wickets with 80 on the board. The situation became precarious for Dhoni, but then came Yuvraj Singh – who lost the Asia cup with an allegation of being out of form. Yuvraj taking the initiative added 143 runs in the fifth wicket stand with Gautam Gambhir. The opener was lucky on the second day as he survived three close edges but was not lucky enough to complete his century and lost his wicket at 89. After Gambhir’s dismissal, Yuvraj got the cramps, though he fought well but could not see his side making the follow on mark.
Earlier on the day, the Board president’s XI started their innings from 432 for five with Chandimal playing at 5 while Silva at 6 runs. Chandimal’s unbeaten 47 off 71 balls helped the President’s XI cross the psychological 500. Silva could add just 13 wickets to the side’s total before losing his wicket o http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ishant-Sharma-c64566. Senanayake was lbw by Mithun. He scored 11 of 17 balls including a boundary as well. Both Mendis and Welegedara lost their wickets to Pragyan Ojha. Samaraweera decided to declare the first innings at 514 for 9.
Pragyan Ojha was the most successful bowler from Indian side. He took five wickets conceding at an economy of 5.56 per over, but overall Indian bowling was below par.
India got six overs of the first session and the openers, Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag, entertained the audience with some beautiful shots over the extra cover. But after the lunch break the strikes from Ajantha Mendis and Welegedara did not let the Indian batsmen settle at the crease. The entertaining start soon changed into a disastrous one as India lost its four wickets within 19 overs game. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746, also failed to help his side save the embarrassment of not making the follow on mark. He started his innings with a boundary but got lbw in the first over of the Lankan spinner Mendis.
The only Indian batsmen who faced the attack of President’s XI confidently was Yuvraj Singh who tried to make the best of the three day practice match to confirm his Number 6 position in the test squad. But even his 118, without a support from the other end, could not help the India cross the follow-on mark of 314. The Indian XI was all out at 223. Ajantha Mendis took six wickets conceding 67 runs in his 17.2 overs spell.
Board president’s XI did not start their second innings as the bad light resulted in the early wrap up.
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