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| September 29, 2003 | Monday | Sha’aban 2, 1424 |
Chopra stakes claim for Test slot
VISAKHAPATNAM (India), Sept 28: Opener Akash Chopra slammed a fine unbeaten hundred for the Indian Board President’s XI on the third and final day of the rain-hit tour match against New Zealand here on Sunday.
Chopra was 103 not out at close as Board President’s XI reached 227-1 in the truncated tie, strengthening his case for an opening slot for the upcoming two-Test series against New Zealand.
Chopra, who struck six fours off 263 deliveries, got to his century with a pulled boundary from off-spinner Paul Wiseman. The captains decided to call off play with that stroke.
“It was wonderful to get these runs and I am looking forward to our next match,” said Chopra, who is also a member of the India ‘A’ side due to take on the visitors from Oct 2 to 4 at Rajkot.
Left-hander Yuvraj Singh, a regular in the Indian one-day team, also staked a claim for a Test berth with an unbeaten 80.
Chopra and Yuvraj put on 166 runs after the departure of opener Shiv Sundar Das, who was out at 16, caught down the leg side to a lovely catch by wicket-keeper Robbie Hart off seamer Ian Butler.
Captain Virender Sehwag, overnight on nine, did not come out to bat, thus giving a chance to the Test aspirants to show their mettle in the otherwise meaningless encounter.
Only 10.2 overs were possible on the first day of the match while the second day’s play was completely washed out.
Scoreboard
INDIAN BOARD PRESIDENT’S XI (1st Innings):
Akash Chopra not out 103
Virender Sehwag retired 9
S.S. Das c Hart b Butler 16
Yuvraj Singh not out 80
EXTRAS (LB-2, W-1, NB-16) 19
TOTAL (for one wkt, 84.5 overs) 227
FALL OF WKT: 1-61.
DID NOT BAT: V.V.S. Laxman, S. Sriram, A. Ratra, A. Mishra, R. Powar, A. Bhandari, S. Trivedi.
BOWLING: Butler 18-6-32-1 (7nb); Mason 12-4-24-0 (3nb); Styris 5-3-2-0; Vettori 26-4-85-0 (6nb, 1w); Wiseman 23.5-4-82-0.
NEW ZEALAND: M.H. Richardson, L. Vincent, S.P. Fleming, N.J. Astle, C.D. McMillan, S.B. Styris, R. Hart, D.L. Vettori, P.J. Wiseman, I. Butler, M. Mason.
RESULT: Match drawn.—AFP/Reuters
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