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Yuvraj scores century in drawn match

V.V. Subrahmanyam

Jaffer misses one by seven runs; Ponting comes good for the visitor

— PHOTO: K. RAMESH BABU

MAN OF THE MOMENT: Board President’s XI captain Yuvraj Singh was in sublime touch during his knock of 113 against Australia in Hyderabad on Sunday.

HYDERABAD: It was the turn of two India Test discards — opener Wasim Jaffer and captain Yuvraj Singh — to make an emphatic statement about their batting skills even as the four-day cricket match between Board President’s XI and Australia ended in a tame draw at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here on Sunday.

In the morning session, Jaffer 93 (279 minutes, 159b, 12x4) and Yuvraj 113 (208 minutes, 143b, 7x4, 7x6) flayed the Australian attack during their 200-run stand for the third wicket off 269 balls in batsmen-friendly conditions.

The lone exception was fast bowler Stuart Clark, who with emphasis on accuracy and the ability to bring the ball either way, picked up three wickets in the 13 overs he bowled.

Batting feast

It was a virtual batting feast with a charged up Yuvraj hitting Brett Lee over extra-cover for a six and then picking the hapless off-spinner Jason Krejza for rough treatment, hitting two fours and three sixes off him.

In one over, Yuvraj hit the slow bowler into the stands at long-off, then swept to the fence and hit another big six over long-on to reach 99. After this Jaffer reverse swept him for two fours in the previous over.

Yuvraj enjoyed batting at the venue where he has scored two ODI centuries against South Africa and Australia. He reached his century with a nonchalant pull off Krejza into the stands, but soon perished going for a drive on the off-side, only to be caught behind off Clark.

Picture of confidence

At the other end, Jaffer was a picture of confidence and elegance with wonderful stroke selection and when he looked good for a century, the untiring Clark surprised him by bringing one back sharply to trap the batsman on the shuffle.

The Aussies were finally relieved when the declaration came one hour after lunch at 292 for four, setting a target of 434 for a victory from a possible 53 overs.

Roaring form

Captain Ricky Ponting was in roaring form. He pulled fast bowler Manpreet Gony to the fence, then hit left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha for two huge sixes over long-on and later essayed two exquisite cover-drives off leg-spinner Piyush Chawla.

The spinners, who looked very good in the first innings, looked ordinary as Ponting 58 not out (120 minutes, 97b, 7x4, 2x6) and Michael Clarke 36 not out (69 minutes, 70b, 5x4) batted with authority in the final session after Matthew Hayden and Simon Katich were dismissed cheaply again.

The match was called off after 38 overs and 74 minutes after tea as no result was possible.

The scores:

Board President’s XI — 1st innings: 455.

Australia — 1st innings: 314.

Board President’s XI — 2nd innings: A. Chopra lbw b Clark 6, W. Jaffer lbw b Clark 93, S. Badrinath c Haddin b Lee 14, Yuvraj Singh c Haddin b Clark 113, R. Sharma (not out) 29, V. Kohli (not out) 16, Extras (b-14, lb-4, nb-3): 21; Total (for four wkts. decl. in 70 overs): 292.

Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-35, 3-235, 4-240.

Australia bowling: Lee 18-2-60-1, Clark 13-5-33-3, Siddle 11-0-41-0, Johnson 11-3-25-0, Krejza 11-1-76-0, Michael Clarke 6-1-39-0.

Australia — 2nd innings: M. Hayden lbw b Chawla 14, S. Katich c Kohli b Gony 5, R. Ponting (not out) 58, M. Clarke (not out) 36, Extras (b-4, lb-5, penalty-5): 14; Total (for two wkts. in 38 overs): 127.

Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-52.

Board President’s XI bowling: Pathan 7-3-11-0, Gony 4-1-20-1, Chawla 14-1-44-1, Ojha 6-1-27-0, Yuvraj 6-2-10-0, Rohit 1-0-1-0.

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