Ratra hits 141 as India
under-19 take lead

Indian skipper Ajay Ratra scored a brilliant 141 as the hosts amassed 492 in reply to England's first innings total of 316, on the penultimate day of the third and final under-19 Test at the Lal Bahadur stadium in Hyderabad on Monday.

Starting the second innings with a 176-run deficit, the visitors were 58 without loss when stumps were drawn.

Resuming at 220 for three, overnight centurian Vinayak Mane continued on his scoring spree but was run-out by an elegant direct hit by Pratt Pratt, fielding in the covers, after he had added 21 runs to his overnight score of 114.

Skipper Ajay Ratra, despite losing partners at frequent intervals, stabilised the innings and went on to compile a fine 141 off 189 balls, of which he scored 16 fours before being dismissed by Bishop, his English counterpart Ian Bell taking a neat catch.

Ratra, involved in a 56-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Maninder Singh(6), made 71 in the company of Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan (38) for the eighth wicket and piled up 67 runs for the ninth wicket with Dharmichand (33).

The Indian innings ended at 492, with Justin Bishop being the most successful English bowler, claiming 5 for 64.

England openers John Sadler (17) and Nickey Peng (37) were at the crease when stumps were drawn. Play was extended by 25 minutes to complete the mandatory 90 overs.

Scoreboard

England (1st innings): 316 (I R Bell 46, G J Pratt 114, G J Muchall 36; N Agarwal 4-50, A Mishra 4-96)

India (1st innings) (overnight 220 for 3)
G Gambhir c Pratt b K Hogg 65
V Mane run out 135
I Ganda c Pratt b Ferley 18
Gnaneshwar Rao c Wallace b Bishop 13
Alind Naidu c Wallace b Bishop 19
Ratra A c Bell b Bishop 141
Maninder Singh c Peng b Ferley 6
Amit Mishra c Wallace b Bishop 0
V Sivaramakrishnan c Wallace b McGarry 38
Dharmichand b Bishop 33
Nitin Agarwal not out 4
Extras: (B-5, LB-15) 20
Total (all out in 116.3 overs) 492
Fall of Wickets: 1-112, 2-189, 3-315, 4-248, 5-266 6-322, 7-335, 8-406, 9-473.
Bowling: McGarry 18-3-70-1, Justin Bishop 20.3-4-64-5, K Hogg 20-3-92-1, C Tremlett 14-2-65-0, R Ferley 33-4-139-3, Muchall 11-1-42-0.

England (2nd Innings):
John Sadler (batting) 17
Nickey Peng (batting) 37
Extras (LB-2, NB-2) 4
Total (no loss in 23 overs) 58
Bowling: Maninder Singh 3-1-2-0, Nitin Agarwal 4-1-9-0, Amit Mishra 6-1-25-0, Dharmichand 4-2-11-0, Vidyut Sivaramakrishna 5-1-8-0, Ishan Ganda 1-0-1-0.

Mail Cricket Editor