India’s tour match against Somerset - Part 2: Analysis of India’s first Innings
India’s bowling failed miserably in the practice game against Somerset, at the County Ground, Taunton in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 on the first day’s play on Friday, July 15, 2011. However, the team had higher hopes from their solid batting line-up, which had a blend of youth
and experience.
The visitors walked out to bat on the second day’s play on Saturday, July 16. They wouldn’t have expected to be in a stage, which they ended up being at the end of their first innings.
The number one ranked Test team could only manage 224 runs, losing all their batsmen. They were threatened to be bowled out within 150, but a valiant effort from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SK-Raina-c2539 saved the team from humiliation.
Raina ended up being the top scorer for his team with an unbeaten 103 runs. He was left out of partners at the other end, as none of the other Indian batsmen were able to score in the thirties.
It was not hard for the batsmen to score runs, as the pitch remained good for batting on the second day’s play as well. However, the visitors didn’t have an ideal outing, as they struggled to bat longer.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MS-Dhoni-c2028, failed to make a big impression, as he was the first man to be dismissed in the visitors’ innings. He collected 21 runs off 18 balls with the help of five boundaries.
Abhivav Mukund, who had an unimpressive series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760, was also not able to cause too many problems for the Somerset bowlers, as he was sent back to the pavilion after adding 18 runs to the total.
The biggest disappointment for the Indian fans and the dressing room was the failure of their star middle-order players http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Yuvraj-Singh-c98364. The trio were expected to be the backbone of the batting line-up, but failed miserably
in the match.
Tendulkar managed only 26 runs in his little outing and was dismissed by a part-time medium-pacer, Craig Meschede. Dravid also failed to make most of the good batting conditions, as he was sent back to the pavilion after adding 17 runs to the total.
Yuvraj, who earned the player-of-the-series award in the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 World Cup 2011, didn’t last long in the middle. He failed to trouble the scorers, getting out for a five-ball duck.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 had lost nine wickets for just 140 runs on the board and were in a poor position. However, Raina collected a marvellous century for the side, rescuing his side from complete humiliation.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Somerset-c843, taking a six-wicket haul in the innings.
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