PESHAWAR, FEB 10: Sanjay Raul and Ajit Agarkar, who came up with a superb all-round display, slammed unbeaten centuries and piled up 208 runs for their unfinished seventh wicket as the three-day India A match against Peshawar Association XI ended in a draw here today.Middle-order bat Raul slammed 114 not out and Agarkar, coming in at number seven, weighed in with an unbeaten 109 (135 balls) in just over three hours on a lively track to help India A declare their second innings at 343 for six at Arbab Niaz Stadium.
In reply, Indians had reduced Peshawar to 39 for three wickets at closure. The performance gave India a splendid second warm-up outing ahead of the first Test at Rawalpindi from February 13 to 16.
Raul (114 not out, 197b, 236m) batted beautifully with fluent drives in front of the wicket, despite India A being reduced to 135 for five at one stage, in a committed effort with Agarkar.
The medium-pacer, who had snared six for 75 to restrict the hosts to 203 in the first knock after India werebowled out for 180, showed no signs of pressure and blasted 15 fours against a solid pace attack led by left-arm bowler Kabir Khan and slow bowling led by off-spinner Arshad Khan, both senior Pakistan players.
Both Indian coach Krishnamachari Srikkanth and manager Surinder Khanna were all praise for Raul and Agarkar and said the two showed great application and determination after the team looked in danger of collapsing for a low score.
The Indian team travels to Rawalpindi tomorrow. The Pakistan team for the first Test will be announced tomorrow.
Brief scores: India A 180 (Nikhil Haldipur 35; Kabir Khan 3/40, Fazal e-Akbar 3-36, Sajid Shah 3-53) and 343-6(Abbas Ali 24, Sanjay Raul 114 not out, Ajit Agarkar 109 not out; Fazal 2-84, Sajid Shah 3-68) drew with Peshawar Assn XI 203 (Taimur Khan 58, Wasim Yousafi 43, Kabir Khan not out 46; Madhukar 2-40, Agarkar 6-75) and 39-3(Sairaj Bahutule 1-28, Reetinder Sodhi 1-10, Raul 1-17).
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
