Badani makes hay as Durham struggle
Faced with a below-strength Durham attack, further weakened by the loss of Ian Hunter with an ankle injury after one over, India A's batsmen feasted as they reached 482 for 9 before declaring on the second day of their four-day match at
Wisden Cricinfo staff
28-Jun-2003
Day 2 Close Durham 94 for 1 trail India A 482 for 9 (Badani 133, Das 125, Kartik 50) by 388 runs
Faced with a below-strength Durham attack, further weakened by the loss of Ian Hunter with an ankle injury after one over, India A's batsmen feasted as they reached 482 for 9 before declaring on the second day of their four-day match at Chester-le-Street. At the close Durham had reached 94 for 1, still 388 runs in arrears.
On a pitch which favoured the batsmen, India A lost Parthiv Patel to the third ball of the day when he sparred at Nicky Hatch and was well caught by Nicky Pratt in the gully. But 17-year-old Ambati Rayudu added 71 for the fifth wicket with Hemang Badani before edging Nicky Phillips to slip for 25.
Badani carefully progressed to his hundred before cutting loose. Whereas he had been sedate for most of his innings, he unleashed a massive straight six off Mark Davies and dispatched Michael Gough way over the midwicket boundary. Gough's revenge came in his next over when Badani was stumped for 133 when he charged down the pitch. Murali Kartik made 50, and as India A pressed for quick runs Nicky Phillips picked up wickets, ending with 4 for 126.
When Durham replied Amit Bhandari bowled Jon Lewis for 20, but Gough gave every impression that he was preparing for a long stay, reaching 25 not out off 108 balls at the close.