Ratra slams unbeaten hundred
The Indian bowlers failed to make much of an impression as Derbyshire replied strongly to reach 228 for three at close on the second day of the three-day match against Derbyshire on Thursday.
Wicketkeeper Ajay Ratra gave a timely reminder to the tour selectors, scoring an unbeaten hundred as the Indians reached 445 for eight before declaring their first innings at lunch.
Only leg-spinner Anil Kumble, coming in to bowl late in the day, struck with two quick wickets to bring some cheer to the Indians on the field.
Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was the other successful bowler. He claimed the opener Steve Stubbings (66) when the total was 131.
Kumble cleaned up Dominic Hewson (66) and nightwatchman Paul Adred (2), having the two batsmen caught in the close-in cordon.
Both Stubbings and Hewson played attractive knocks, facing 107 and 82 balls resepctively. While Stubbings hit 12 fours, Hewson's innings was laced with 10 boundaries and a six.
Playing only his second first class game, opener Ruwait Khan who remained unbeaten on 77 smashed 13 fours off 105 balls in his 240 minutes stay in the wicket.
Left-hander Stubbings was aggressive to start with and made several piercing off drives but not before long his partner, Khan found his moorings and took command.
Indeed Khan was the first one to reach his half century before Stubbings made a crashing off drive against Tinu Yohannan to reach his own personal landmark.
Earlier, Ratra, who was ignored for the third Test at Leeds, made
101 not out as the Indians, resuming at their overnight 301
for five, raised their highest total against Derbyshire.
The Indians spent an entertaining two hours at the crease
this morning as the tailenders were given useful opportunity
to practice against a flagging attack.
Ratra reached his landmark in fortuitous circumstances. He
pushed Neil Gunter to covers and took off but regained his
crease just in time as the throw hit the stumps and rebounded
towards midwicket, giving him the two runs for his century.
He batted for 288 minutes and faced 206 balls, hitting
14 fours but played second fiddle to Anil Kumble and Harbhajan
Singh, the two spinners who batted with gay abandon.
Stand-in captain Rahul Dravid, unbeaten on 40 on Wednesday,
didn't come out to bat. It allowed Kumble and Harbhajan
Singh to polish their batting edges ahead of the final Test.
Kumble played some astonishing drives through the covers and
in one over of medium-pacer Jason Kerr hit four fours in
succession on the off-side. Kerr also dropped him at midwicket
when he was on 36 in the team total of 354 for six.
Harbhajan toyed with the home attack, slamming three sixes and four fours in his 44 off 32 balls.
Mail Cricket Editor
