Ahmedabad: England XI have taken a huge lead on the third day of the final warm-up game against Haryana today at the Sardar Patel Stadium B Ground, Motera, here. England XI who posted a dominating 521 in the first innings thanks to a superb century by Kevin Pietersen were 118-0 at stumps on day three.
England who reduced Haryana for 333 in their first innings now have taken an unassailable lead of 304 with 10 wickets in hand.
English openers Nick Compton and Jonathan Trott started their started their second essay on a cautious note and avoided taking any unnecessary risks. They made Haryana bowlers toil hard in the middle. At close of play Compton was unbeaten on 54 including seven four while Trott was batting on 61 with the help of 10 boundaries.
Earlier Haryana started the day on 172/4 with overnight batsmen Rahul Dewan playing at 77 and Sandeep Singh.
Haryana batsmen never looked comfortable against the bowling attack of England and lost wickets at a flurry. It was only the opener Dewan who defied the English bowlers and posed a threat to them.
He held on from the other end and was negotiating with the bowling well. He patiently crept towards his 100 and stayed unbeaten on 144 off 320 deliveries laced with 17 fours. Apart from him Sunny Singh (55) and Chanderpal Saini (35) were the only batsmen who looked to be at little ease against the burly English bowling attack.
For England Tim Bresnan and Stuart Meaker were the pick of the bowlers. Bresnan ended the innings with figures of 3-67, while Meaker returned with 3-72.
By Indian Sports News Network