The Cricket Club of India President's XI bowlers ensured that the routine practice game for the touring English team had its share of excitement.
The hurriedly assembled bowling line-up stuck to their guns to knock over their esteemed guests in 89.3 overs for 299 runs, after electing to bat in the three-day game.
"It is an achievement to get an international side out within a day," said the CCI XI manager Suru Nayak at the end of the day.
Ian Bell top scored with 78 and there were useful half-centuries by Andrew Strauss (51) and Michael Vaughan (54) but didn't do much to enforce belief that they will prove equals on the Indian soil. And still the pitch was livelier than they will come across during the international series.
The pitch at the Brabourne stadium afforded some movement early on and Rajesh Verma of Mumbai and Abid Nabi of Jammu and Kashmir gave the hosts a good start by tying up the English openers.
By the time the match was in the fifth over, Matt Prior and Andrew Strauss had managed to steal only a run. Verma struck the first blow, when he had Prior bowled for a duck.
Strauss and captain Vaughan them had a steady partnership of 102 runs, but Kshemal Waigankar broke the partnership with a delivery that moved slightly away and crashed onto the stumps as Strauss tried to play across the line. Waigankar, who later also had Vaughan caught behind, was the most successful bowler for the CCI with figures of three for 53 in 15 overs.
The biggest disappointment for the crowds came when the star attractions, Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff, failed to live up to the expectations. Pietersen survived two chances off left-arm spinner Hitshu Bachani when he was dropped by wicket-keeper Vinayak Samant and then got off with a missed stumping.
But the 25-year-old was bowled by Munish Ansari of Madhya Pradesh for 26. Flintoff followed him in the pavilion after knocking 20 runs from 29 balls.
Bell, who made his debut in 2005 Ashes series, had a long stint in the middle and looked comfortable against pace and spin alike. He built a stand of 60 runs with Paul Collingwood, who remained unbeaten on 47, as England looked like cruising at tea-time.
But the right-hander, who toured India as part of the under-19 team that in 2000-01, was out stumped to Bachani after he had the bowler for a huge six on the previous ball.
Bell, however, was not too concerned about his dismissal.
"There were guys to bat and it was important to spend some time at the crease for all of us. It was not due to any tiredness or loss of concentration," said the 23-year old.
The last five wickets fell within the space of 36 runs, as England ended their first match day in India in the 90th over when Monty Panesar was run-out for three.
Nilesh Kulkarni also led the side well, making full use of the resources at his disposal, shuffling around as many as nine bowlers.
England also named their full squad for the match but opener Marcus Trescothick and Liam Plunkett spent the day in the hotel room since they were not 100 per cent fit.
England XI 1st innings
A Strauss b Waingankar 51
M Prior b Verma 0
M Vaughan c Samant b Waingankar 54
I Bell st Samant b Bachani 78
K Pietersen b Ansari 26
A Flintoff c Indulkar b Redkar 20
P Collingwood not out 47
G Jones c Muzumdar b Waingankar 1
I Blackwell c Kukreja b Bachani 1
M Hoggard b Abid Nabi 3
M Panesar run out (Mota) 3
Extras (lb 1, w 1, nb 13) 15
Total (all out, 89.3 overs, 371 mins) 299
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-103, 3-114, 4-156, 5-203, 6-263, 7-265, 8-272, 9-280, 10-299
Bowling: Verma 6 3 18 1 (2nb, 1w), Abid Nabi 9 6 17 1, Mota 3 0 33 0, Waingankar 15 0 53 3 (11nb), Hazare 6 0 28 0, Kulkarni 10 3 21 0, Bachani 18.3 2 66 2, Ansari 6 0 14 1, Redkar 16 1 48 1
Cricket Club of India President's XI team: N Kulkarni, H Waingankar, H Bachani, S Hazare, A Muzumdar, V Indulkar, H Shah, V Samant, W Mota, Abid Nabi, R Verma, A Redkar, S Kukreja, H Shinde, M Ansari, R Uthappa.
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