Gary Pratt has been in good form all through this tour

Santhosh S in Hyderabad27-Jan-2001Gary Pratt has been in good form all through this tour. It was just amatter of time and good fortune that the left-hander came good. AtChennai he was indisposed with suspected food poisoning. So Prattchose Hyderabad as the place to make it big. He was fortunate tosurvive following some atrocious catching by the Indian boys. Indeed,he was dropped thrice before he got to his hundred.
GaryPratt
Photo Paul McGregor
England made two changes to their team, Robert Ferley and Kyle Hoggreplacing Monty Panesar and Ian Pattison. According to the Englishcoach Tim Boon, the changes have brought in more solidity to the team.India too made a couple of changes, K Khadkikar and Sidharth Trivedimaking way for Maninder Singh and Amit Mishra to have their firstjunior `Test’ appearance.Winning the toss, English colts decided to bat first on a flatsurface. Eleven overs of medium pace from Maninder Singh and NitinAggarwal did not produce a wicket. S Vidyut, the hero of the first`Test’ was brought in to bowl in the 12th over and straightaway he gotsome bounce and turn on this docile pitch. Leg spinner Amit Mishracame in to bowl from the pavilion end in the following over.The English opening batsman looked to be in a spot of bother againstthe double spin attack. In the 15th over, Mishra made one turn andbounce, the ball took the edge of Sadler’s bat and flew to VinayakMane at forward short leg, who juggled with the ball and parried it toAjay Ratra, who took a diving catch. Sadler made 22 off 53 balls in 55minutes at the crease.Opener Nicky Peng who had earlier played some cracking shots to thefence off Aggarwal, hit a sweetly timed flick off Vidyut to the squareleg fence for four, but was walking back to the pavilion in the 25thover. Mishra again doing the trick, ripping one across the bat to takethe outside edge, the ball flew to first slip and Ishan Ganda took asharp reflex catch. Peng made 24 runs off 67 balls and the wicket fellat 66.Captain Ian Bell and the new batsman Pratt steadied the inningsslowly. Bell had a shaky start, trying to play the spinners off thebackfoot more often than not. Pratt chanced his fortune, dancing downthe track and driving Dharmichand through mid-wicket and, off thefollowing ball, drove him through the covers to the fence. He waspositive about his game with good footwork, which is the only way toplay against spin. Soon Bell was also on song, using his feet to drivethe spinners on both sides of the pitch. His straight drive offDharmichand was easily the best shot before lunch.Pratt was on 23 when Vidyut failed to take the return catch offered tohim. Pratt made the Indians pay heavily as he smashed Vidyut overlong-on for a huge six soon after the lunch break. Pratt enjoyed hisgood fortune all through the day. He was dropped on 67 by Alind Naiduand on 89 by Amit Mishra. Catches do not come any easier than that.Pratt’s second six was hit off Mishra over long-off.Bell, who looked good for a long innings, played back to a deliveryfrom Dharmichand, the ball hit the batsman’s pads and VK Ramaswamy didnot hesitate in raising the finger. Bell was visibly upset by thedecision as he walked back to the pavilion. His innings of 46 came off132 balls and included six boundaries. Bell and Pratt added 102valuable runs in their third wicket partnership.Gordon Muchall came in at 168/3 and even before he opened his inningswas dropped by YG Rao at mid on. Muchall too enjoyed his share of goodfortune by lifting Vidyut over long on for a big six. After the teabreak, Pratt got to his hundred off 158 balls in the 80th over.Spinners bowling in tandem made no impact on the English batsmen.Skipper Ajay Ratra brought in the seam bowlers and did not have towait for long. Aggarwal who had Muchall in a spot of trouble for awhile, had him caught at first slip by Ishan Ganda for 36. Muchall hitthree boundaries and a six in his innings that lasted 113 balls.Muchall helped Pratt add 89 runs for the fourth wicket before beingdismissed at 249.At close of play England were 256/4 off 94 overs. Pratt is unbeaten on114 off 194 balls in 270 minutes at the crease. He has so far smashedtwo sixes and 13 fours in his stay at the wicket. Keeping him companyis the nightwatchman Justin Bishop on one. India colts have not gonein for the second new ball yet. The morning session of day two will becrucial for both the teams.