England build on Pratt's unbeaten century

Gary Pratt has been in good form all through this tour. It was just a matter of time and good fortune that the left-hander came good. At Chennai he was indisposed with suspected food poisoning. So Pratt chose Hyderabad as the place to make it big. He was fortunate to survive following some atrocious catching by the Indian boys. Indeed, he was dropped thrice before he got to his hundred.

England made two changes to their team, Robert Ferley and Kyle Hogg replacing Monty Panesar and Ian Pattison. According to the English coach Tim Boon, the changes have brought in more solidity to the team. India too made a couple of changes, K Khadkikar and Sidharth Trivedi making way for Maninder Singh and Amit Mishra to have their first junior `Test' appearance.

Winning the toss, English colts decided to bat first on a flat surface. Eleven overs of medium pace from Maninder Singh and Nitin Aggarwal did not produce a wicket. S Vidyut, the hero of the first `Test' was brought in to bowl in the 12th over and straightaway he got some bounce and turn on this docile pitch. Leg spinner Amit Mishra came in to bowl from the pavilion end in the following over.

The English opening batsman looked to be in a spot of bother against the double spin attack. In the 15th over, Mishra made one turn and bounce, the ball took the edge of Sadler's bat and flew to Vinayak Mane at forward short leg, who juggled with the ball and parried it to Ajay Ratra, who took a diving catch. Sadler made 22 off 53 balls in 55 minutes at the crease.

Opener Nicky Peng who had earlier played some cracking shots to the fence off Aggarwal, hit a sweetly timed flick off Vidyut to the square leg fence for four, but was walking back to the pavilion in the 25th over. Mishra again doing the trick, ripping one across the bat to take the outside edge, the ball flew to first slip and Ishan Ganda took a sharp reflex catch. Peng made 24 runs off 67 balls and the wicket fell at 66.

Captain Ian Bell and the new batsman Pratt steadied the innings slowly. Bell had a shaky start, trying to play the spinners off the backfoot more often than not. Pratt chanced his fortune, dancing down the track and driving Dharmichand through mid-wicket and, off the following ball, drove him through the covers to the fence. He was positive about his game with good footwork, which is the only way to play against spin. Soon Bell was also on song, using his feet to drive the spinners on both sides of the pitch. His straight drive off Dharmichand was easily the best shot before lunch.

Pratt was on 23 when Vidyut failed to take the return catch offered to him. Pratt made the Indians pay heavily as he smashed Vidyut over long-on for a huge six soon after the lunch break. Pratt enjoyed his good fortune all through the day. He was dropped on 67 by Alind Naidu and on 89 by Amit Mishra. Catches do not come any easier than that. Pratt's second six was hit off Mishra over long-off.

Bell, who looked good for a long innings, played back to a delivery from Dharmichand, the ball hit the batsman's pads and VK Ramaswamy did not hesitate in raising the finger. Bell was visibly upset by the decision as he walked back to the pavilion. His innings of 46 came off 132 balls and included six boundaries. Bell and Pratt added 102 valuable runs in their third wicket partnership.

Gordon Muchall came in at 168/3 and even before he opened his innings was dropped by YG Rao at mid on. Muchall too enjoyed his share of good fortune by lifting Vidyut over long on for a big six. After the tea break, Pratt got to his hundred off 158 balls in the 80th over. Spinners bowling in tandem made no impact on the English batsmen.

Skipper Ajay Ratra brought in the seam bowlers and did not have to wait for long. Aggarwal who had Muchall in a spot of trouble for a while, had him caught at first slip by Ishan Ganda for 36. Muchall hit three boundaries and a six in his innings that lasted 113 balls. Muchall helped Pratt add 89 runs for the fourth wicket before being dismissed at 249.

At close of play England were 256/4 off 94 overs. Pratt is unbeaten on 114 off 194 balls in 270 minutes at the crease. He has so far smashed two sixes and 13 fours in his stay at the wicket. Keeping him company is the nightwatchman Justin Bishop on one. India colts have not gone in for the second new ball yet. The morning session of day two will be crucial for both the teams.