The Hindu : Sport : Chopra, Badrinath build huge partnership

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Saturday, Sep 15, 2007
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Sport

Chopra, Badrinath build huge partnership

Special Correspondent

CRICKET / Needing 439 to avoid following on, South Africa ‘A’ was 93 for two at stumps

— Photo: Sandeep Saxena

HUGE STAND: Double centurions Aakash Chopra (background) and S. Badrinath put a tired attack to the sword to hit up the second highest partnership ever for the fifth wicket.

NEW DELHI: Aakash Chopra and S. Badrinath set up the second highest partnership for the fifth wicket in cricket history on way to unbeaten double centuries on the second day of the India ‘A’-South Africa ‘A’ ‘Test’ at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground here on Friday.

Making the most of a tired attack on a placid pitch, the two overnight batsmen plundered runs almost at will till India ‘A’ declared at 588 for four. At stumps, the visiting team was 93 for two after losing Hashim Amla cheaply. South Africa needs to score 439 to avoid following on.

The day belonged to Chopra and Badrinath who raised 410 runs for the fifth wicket during their unbeaten association that lasted only 400 minutes. During the breezy partnership, they went past the previous second highest stand of 405 made by Sid Barnes and Don Bradman against England in Sydney in 1946-47. The record remains in the name of the Steve Waugh and brother Mark, who put on an unconquered 464 for New South Wales against Western Australia at Perth in 1990-91.

Badrinath, among the most consistent batsmen in domestic cricket for a couple of seasons now, reinforced his claim for a place in the National Test team with this knock.

Dominating show

Resuming the day at 77, the stylish Tamil Nadu batsman dominated the proceedings and raced away to a timely 200 before skipper Mohammad Kaif applied closure.

Badrinath, using his feet well and displaying pleasing stroke selection, smashed three sixes and 17 boundaries to almost match the big hits of Chopra, who unleashed 19 boundaries besides four sixes in his unbeaten 239. Chopra’s lone blemish came at 231 when he offered a return catch to Justin Ontong.

The duo did well to foil the South African medium pacers who had pinned their hopes on the second new ball that was just five overs old when play resumed this morning. Among the spinners, off-spinner Werner Coetsee received the worst punishment.

When the South Africans began their reply, medium pacer Ishant Sharma showed that he was yet to sort out problems with his run-up. In his first four over, Ishant bowled eight no balls including three in his first over and that did his claim no good.

Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha provided the breakthrough by having Coetsee caught at first slip. Fellow opener Morne van Wyk helped himself to an unbeaten half-century after losing Hashim Amla to a direct throw from Amit Mishra from point.

The scores:

India ‘A’ — 1st innings: C. Pujara c Tsolekile b de Wet 8, A. Chopra (not out) 239, M. Kaif lbw b de Wet 0, P. Patel (run out) 110, M. Tewary c Amla b Kleinveldt 2, S. Badrinath (not out) 200, Extras (b-5, lb-6, nb-17, w-1) 29; Total (for four wickets decl. in 150.3 overs) 588.

Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-13, 3-172, 4-178.

South Africa ‘A’ bowling: Langeveldt 27-8-53-0, de Wet 24-2-84-2, Kleinveldt 22-3-92-1, Ontong 17-0-103-0, Coetsee 45-4-186-0, Amla 15.3-1-59-0.

South Africa ‘A’ — 1st innings: M. van Wyk (batting) 53, W. Coetsee c Kaif b Ojha 18, H. Amla (run out) 8, B. Dippenaar (batting) 3, Extras (lb-2, nb-9) 11; Total (for two wickets in 26 overs) 93.

India ‘A’ bowling: Pankaj 7-1-43-0, Ishant 5-25-0, Ojha 10-2-18-1, Mishra 2-1-2-0, Makda 2-0-3-0.

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