Siddiqui sends England crashing

India 'A' built on their advantage after medium-pacer Iqbal Siddiqui triggered an England batting slump on the second day of their three-day tour game on Wednesday.

Siddiqui struck thrice in 13 deliveries to grab four wickets in a morning spell, on a green pitch, to help dismiss the visitors for 170.

India 'A', 63 runs ahead on the first innings after declaring at 233 for nine on the opening day, were 75 for three at the close.

Siddiqui, 26, who plays for Maharashtra in the domestic competition, undermined England's batting five days ahead of the first Test, starting in Mohali on Monday.

Bowling a precise off-stump line and gaining late movement from a pitch which gave him early assistance, Siddiqui finished with four for 53 from his 21 overs.

He was rewarded with selection on the same day in the squad for the first Test as the Indian selectors decided to discard the entire pace attack who did duty in South Africa.

The England top-order, barring opener Mark Butcher (37) and skipper Nasser Hussain, who made a patient 40, failed to impress as they were reduced to 128 for nine wickets early in the afternoon.

FIGHTING STAND

Only a fighting 32 by wicket-keeper James Foster and his 42-run last wicket stand with Richard Dawson (19) enabled the visitors to reduce the leeway.

Resuming at their overnight 37 for two, left-handed openers Mark Butcher and Marcus Trescothick both fell at the score of 46 in the space of two deliveries and the innings never really recovered.

Siddiqui first forced Butcher to edge to third slip Abhijit Kale for 37 and former Test seamer Doddanarasaiah Ganesh had Trescothick caught behind for seven with the first ball of the new over.

Skipper Nasser Hussain and Michael Vaughan added 36 runs for the third wicket before Siddiqui struck again by dismissing Vaughan for 22, top-edging an attempted pull to short extra cover.

Vaughan scored three of his five fours through pulls to the midwicket fence, but was fooled by the extra bounce.

Hussain punched Ganesh through covers and then twice hooked Siddiqui to fine-leg for fours at the other end, but had a lucky escape when he had reached 13 when his edge against Siddiqui was dropped in the slips.

The England skipper hoisted Joshi over long on for a six and hit five fours in his 88-ball knock, but the spinner had his revenge by bowling him going for another big heave.

When India A batted for the second time, all-rounder Craig White claimed all three wickets, conceding only 19 runs from his nine overs as the visitors managed to stem the run flow in the final session.

Mail Cricket Editor