Performance Squad suffer batting collapse

EPP 235 for 7 (Chopra 70, Taylor 51) trail DY Patil Sports Academy 277 (Indulkar 94) by 42 runs
Scorecard

The England Performance Programme suffered a batting collapse on the second day of their match against the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy as they fell from 153 for 1 to close on 235 for 7.

Varun Chopra and James Taylor had added 96 for the first wicket, as the EPP replied to the Academy total of 277, but the real problems started when Chopra fell for 70. Vishal Dabholkar, a left-arm spinner, claimed three wickets having opened the bowling while Pankaj Jaiswal took 3 for 25.

The Academy had resumed on 219 for 7 and Vinit Indulkar continued his extensive occupation of the crease until being the last man out for 94 having faced 252 deliveries. He received some useful support from the lower order as the last three wickets added 76.

The EPP began solidly through Chopra, who is a regular opener for Warwickshire, and Taylor who is usually a middle-order batsman although he has opened for England Lions in the past. After Taylor fell to Jaiswal, Chopara and Craig Kieswetter added a further 57 for the second wicket to suggest that the visitors would be well placed for a first-innings lead.

However, that changed when Dabholkar, who has not played first-class cricket, removed them both and in between Gary Ballance fell for 4. Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes started to form a partnership for the fifth wicket, but Jaiswal came back to claim two more scalps either side of Dabholkar trapped Buttler lbw for 44.