Bell's ton gives England Under-19 the lead

Waleed Hussain in Mumbai

January 10, 2001

England Under-19 were 281 for nine off 107 overs at stumps on the second day of the first 'Test' at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday. The tourists have a slender 24-run lead with one wicket still in hand. Justin Bishop is on 13 and Monty Panesar on one.

The highlight of the day was England Under-19 skipper Ian Bell's century. It was the Warwickshire player's second century in his tenth Under-19 'Test' and the first for England on the tour. Bell's domination was a sign of a future Test player in the making.

The tourists resumed on the second day at 24 for no loss. The first session saw the end of a 43-run opening stand when Nikki Peng was run out by a straight drive from Gary Pratt which deflected on to the stumps off the hands of the bowler Siddarth Trivedi. Peng had looked good during his brief stay. He scored 30 off 41 balls with six boundaries.

Bell joined Pratt and added 64 runs off 16 overs for the second wicket. Pratt was deceived in the flight by Vidyuth Sivaramakrishnan as he stepped out to negotiate a tossed up delivery. Pratt failed to check his stroke and gave a return catch to the bowler. He made 28 off 94 balls with two boundaries.

The fall of Pratt's wicket triggered a mini-collapse in the middle order. Kadeer Ali was caught brilliantly by Alind Naidu at shortleg. Ali had scored 11 off 29 balls before flicking at off-spinner Dharmichand, only to find the outstretched hands of Naidu. Ian Patison never looked comfortable against the turning ball as Sivaramakrishnan enticed him with three flighted deliveries and castled him on the fourth with an arm ball.

The hosts went to lunch with four wickets down and still trailing by 123 runs. Bell came out and took the attack to the spinners as he galloped his way to a century. His effort came off 185 balls with 18 of them caressed to the fence. Bell was instrumental in adding 87 runs in the second session for the loss of two wickets.

Wicketkeeper Mark Wallace gave ample support to his skipper in a 41-run partnership for the fifth wicket off 20.1 overs. The stand came to an end when Sivaramakrishnan had Wallace caught at short leg by Naidu for 13 off 66 balls.

Robert Ferley then helped Bell add 39 runs for the sixth wicket off 14.1 overs. Bell was finally bowled by a slower delivery from Agarwal. Ferley played a vital role as the tourists gained a first innings lead in the 91st over.

Kyle Hogg and Ferley added 45 runs off 16 overs for the seventh wicket. Another run out came when Ferley called for a non-existent single that left Hogg stranded and both batsmen at the non-striker's end. Dharmichand at square leg was quick to throw down the stumps at the keeper's end.

One run later Khadkikar trapped Ferley plumb in front when he played across the line to a faster delivery. Ferley, for his 29, faced 109 balls and hit three of them to the fence.

The second new ball was taken at the end of the 100th over with the score on 270 for eight. Nitin Agarwal claimed the wicket of Andrew McGarry with the second delivery of the new ball. Last man Monty Panesar hung around with Justin Bishop to add seven runs off 6.4 overs.

Sivaramakrishnan bowled 29 overs with 24 in his first spell unchanged from the Churchgate end. He picked up three wickets at a cost of 83 runs. Agarawal bagged two for 55 while Dharmichand and Khadkikar picked up one wicket each.

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