England fightback earns three-wicket victory

England fought back on the final day to beat India A by three wickets in their three-day match on Thursday.

After all-rounder Craig White had returned to form with five for 31 in India's second innings 109, England reached their victory target of 173 for the loss of seven wickets.

Skipper Nasser Hussain top-scored with 59 while all-rounder Andrew Flintoff hit an aggressive 40.

Hussain maintained his fine early form on the Indian tour as he hit six fours and a six over long-on against part-time bowler Gagan Khoda to dominate the attack after his seamers had set up the victory in the morning.

England, who were 24 for one at lunch, lost opener Marcus Trescothick for 30, but Ramprakash (22) joined his captain to add 58 runs for the third wicket.

He was bowled trying to cut left-arm spinner Sunil Joshi, giving Flintoff the opportunity to take over with three fours and a six.

White returned to form with five wickets as England fought back after conceding a 63-run first innings lead.

The Yorkshire all-rounder struck twice off successive balls while fellow pace bowler Flintoff grabbed three wickets to run through the home side and dismiss them an hour into the final day's play.

White, whose early strikes had reduced the home side to 75 for three overnight, joined forces with Flintoff to give the visitors' hope of claiming a morale-boosting win ahead of the first game of a three-Test series starting on Monday.

SLUMP

White claimed five for 31 while Flintoff finished with three for 27 for a match haul of six for 66.

India A had held the edge going into the final day, having dismissed England for 170 in reply to their 233 for nine declared.

But the England pace duo triggered a slump as the home side lost their last six wickets for just 32 runs, lasting only 12.1 overs.

Their innings ended with the fall of the ninth wicket as Reetinder Sodhi, who took a nasty knock on his right hand from White, did not bat again.

Flintoff struck with his first delivery of the day in the second over, having Yere Goud caught behind on his overnight score of 13, before White struck twice in the next over.

The 31-year-old Yorkshire all-rounder, who has been struggling to reach full pace on this tour after a recent return from injury, bowled sharply in seamer-friendly conditions on a green pitch to give himself the chance of a hat-trick.

Rashmi Parida whipped White behind square for a four but then pulled him straight to skipper Nasser Hussain at mid-on in the same over to be out for 13.

With his next delivery White beat Ajay Ratra for pace to bowl him first ball as India A were reduced to 86 for six.

Abhijit Kale, who hit 122 in the first innings, added 16 runs with his skipper Sunil Joshi before Flintoff struck two quick blows by forcing both batsmen to edge to the slip cordon with sharp pace and late movement.

In between, White surprised Sodhi with a sharp lifting ball which struck him on his right glove to force his return to the pavilion.

Mail Cricket Editor