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Lions has its task cut out

Special Correspondent

Jaffer, Rahane add 342 runs for the second wicket
Lions needs a draw to reach the final

VADODARA: England Lions came here to participate in the Duleep Trophy to experience tough cricket in Indian conditions, as head coach David Parsons put it at the end of an engrossing third day’s play at the Motibaug stadium.

West Zone at full throttle, going all-out in search of an outright win, may be more than what the visitor may have bargained for. Forcing a draw will indeed be creditable for the Lions.

West is snapping at the Lions’ heels after piling up 494 for a crucial 139-run lead. The English team needs to bat through the concluding day to force a draw and ensure a place in the final.

Match referee Sunil Chaturvedi has already stepped into the picture, conveying a timely “behave” message to the captains Michael Yardy and Parthiv Patel.

West has only the victory option, so bowling out Lions is top priority. Paceman Siddharth Trivedi is already on the job, trapping captain Yardy to strike a psychological blow.

Opener Michael Carberry and Ed Joyce survived some tense moments, as the visitor crawled to 14 for one in 12 overs at stumps. Yardy’s absence will be felt on day four as the Lions batsmen come to grips with survival on a Motibaug wicket getting slower and difficult to bat on.

Though the Lions spinners Monty Panesar and Adil Rashid were among the wickets on the penultimate day, West has more accomplished slow bowlers in Ramesh Powar, Rakesh Dhruv and Yusuf Pathan who will be operating with an attacking field.

Orthodox approach

The morning was calm as West’s overnight pair of Ajinkya Rahane and Wasim Jaffer put on 342 for the second wicket. Rahane preferred the orthodox way (172, 293b, 26x4) while Jaffer was patient, almost over-cautious (151, 310b, 22x4, 1x6).

“The ball was not coming on to the bat, so Jaffer’s presence and advice helped me at the crease,” said Rahane, already hungry for runs on debut in the Duleep Trophy. “England Lions is a strong side, so this knock is one I will treasure.”

West’s huge score was also built around Yusuf Pathan’s powerful hits (29 off 21 balls) and captain Parthiv’s elegant drives (59 off 68 deliveries) through covers and straight past the bowlers.

The scores: England Lions — 1st innings: 355.

West Zone — 1st innings: Sahil Kukreja c Foster b Onions 0, Wasim Jaffer c Foster b Kirby 151, Ajinkya Rahane lbw b Kirby 172, Yusuf Pathan c & b Plunkett 29, Parthiv Patel b Panesar 59, Cheteshwar Pujara lbw b Rashid 28, Ramesh Powar lbw b Panesar 5, Rakesh Dhruv b Panesar 2, Sandeep Jobanputra b Rashid 19, Ashraf Makda b Rashid 1, Siddharth Trivedi (not out) 0; Extras (b-6, lb-7, nb-10, w-5): 28; Total (in 130.5 overs): 494.

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-342, 3-365, 4-391, 5-450, 6-461, 7-465, 8-492, 9-493.

Lions bowling: Onions 20-2-81-1, Kirby 27-1-83-2, Panesar 32-5-106-3, Plunkett 21-2-87-1, Trott 9-2-24-0, Rashid 18.5-1-88-3, Yardy 3-0-12-0.

Lions — 2nd innings: Michael Carberry (batting) 5, Michael Yardy lbw b Trivedi 2, Ed Joyce (batting) 5; Extras (b-1, lb-1): 2; Total (for one wkt. in 12 overs): 14.

Fall of wicket: 1-2.

West bowling: Trivedi 4-3-1-1, Makda 3-1-4-0, Dhruv 3-2-4-0, Powar 2-0-3-0.

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