Indian bowlers sent for leather hunt, Strauss hits century

By Ashish Shukla
Taunton, Jul 17 (PTI) A struggling Indian bowlers were
sent for a leather hunt by Somerset batsmen with England
captain Andrew Strauss cracking an unbeaten century as the
three-day warm-up game headed towards a draw on the final day
here on Sunday.
Somerset declared their second innings at 260 for two at
tea on the final day, leaving India with an impossible target
of 462.
Strauss followed up his 78 of the first innings with an
unconquered 109 in the second essay as Somerset rained fours
and sixes in compiling 249 runs at the cost of two wickets
from 36 overs in the post-lunch session.
Peter Trego also remained not out at 85 from a mere 57
balls, having hit seven fours and sixes apiece.
Somerset had dismissed India for 224 in the morning
session.
The sheen off Strauss innings' was off though since
Zaheer Khan did not come out on the field in the second
innings of the hosts.
But the rest of the Indian bowling was as ineffective as
it was in the first innings as they allowed Somerset to score
at the rate of 6.34 per over in their second innings.
Strauss reached his century off 122 balls with a boundary
-- his 18th on the innings.
Somerset, who led India by 201 runs on the first innings,
were rapidly into their stride as Strauss and his opening
partner Arul Suppiah had their second century stand of the
match.
Amit Mishra then managed two wickets off successive balls
when Suppiah (45) and Hildreth (0) fell to catches in the
close-in cordon but he was made to pay for irking the hosts.
Peter Trego, the new man in, launched into Mishra with
such ferocity that the leg-spinner conceded 61 runs from a
mere three overs at one stage.