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Carberry stars for England Lions

Special Correspondent

Vadodara: Hampshire opener Michael Carberry’s stoical knock on Wednesday morning provided England Lions a memorable victory over Central Zone in the Duleep Trophy championship at the Motibaug Palace ground here on Wednesday.

Carberry made the most of a spilled catch by Sanjay Bangar when he was on 83. The 27-year-old, who has played 66 first-class matches for Kent, Surrey and Hampshire and twice winner of the prestigious Denis Compton Award, notched up his 13th first-class century.

Mathur shines

By the time he departed England Lions was well on the way to victory. He was seamer Sumit Mathur’s third victim. Mathur came on as the sixth bowler and appeared to be the best among the four seamers seen in action on the final day.

England Lions’ score was 187 for two when Bangar put down a straight-forward catch. Pankaj Singh removed Michael Yardy in the second over of the morning with Kaif latching on to a dipping catch at first slip. Thereafter Sanjib Sanyal produced a gem to square up Carberry in his long 90-minute remarkable spell of 11 overs, but the chance went abegging.

Ed Joyce began by hooking Sanyal and Pankaj and made an attractive 100-ball 54 with seven hits to fence.

Kaif tossed the ball to Mathur as a last option, and the Rajasthan seamer kept a tight line and length and was rewarded. He forced Joyce to nick, and then given the second new ball claimed after 80 overs, removed James Foster for a duck and had the prize scalp of Carberry.

Fearless strokeplay

England Lions looked vulnerable, but after the lunch break Jonathan Trott and Adil Rashid indulged in some fearless strokeplay and took their side past the finishing line. The sixth wicket pair added 48 runs.

England Lions collected five points from the match. All it needs is first innings points against West Zone to be played here from Sunday in order to advance to the final.

“I am used to the moving ball, but there was some bounce on this pitch and I had to draw on all my experience. It’s quite a different style of seam bowling here in India, they go for stumps straightaway. It’s a challenge to score here,” said Carberry.

The scores: Central Zone — 1st innings: 270.

England Lions —1st innings: 155.

Central Zone — 2nd innings: 180.

England Lions — 2nd innings: M. Carberry lbw b Mathur 112, J. Denly lbw b Gupta 15, M. Yardy c Kaif b Pankaj 57, Ed Joyce c Rawat b Mathur 54, J. Trott (not out) 28, J. Foster c Rawat b Mathur 0, A. Rashid (not out) 24; Extras (lb-4, nb-3) 7; Total (for five wkts. in 89.4 overs) 297.

Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-146, 3-244, 4-249, 5-249.

Central Zone bowling: Bangar 8-5-12-0, Pankaj 20.4-4-85-1, Gupta 24-4-88-1, Saxena 10-2-32-0, Sanyal 19-3-51-0, Mathur 8-2-25-3.

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