Yuvraj belongs

By K. Moses

Hyderabad

Oct. 5: Board President XI skipper Yuvraj Singh struck a splendid century here on Sunday, the final day of the four-day game against Australia XI to send a strong message to the selectors who ignored him for the first two Tests. The slam-bang approach was perhaps his way of venting ire at the ‘wise men.’ The whirlwind ton propelled the hosts to 292/4 declared in the second innings.

Set an improbable task of chasing 434 in 50 overs, the Australians got to 127/2 courtesy Ricky Ponting’s unbeaten half-century before both captains agreed to return to call it quits 75 minutes after tea.

Yuvraj was the star of the drawn encounter. Resuming at his overnight score of 37, the Punjab player inched to his half-century before turning the heat on the hapless Aussies in an all-out assault. The left-hander hit the right note and belted the bowlers around to bring up his century in style — the second fifty came in just 44 balls.

Yuvraj was all aggression, smashing seven boundaries and seven sixes in his superb knock.

He was particularly severe on off-spinner Jason Krejza, who is expected to man the Australian spin department on the gruelling tour — Krejza conceded 63 runs in the six overs on Sunday. He was pummelled for 21 runs in the last over he bowled. It is certain to deflate the potential debutant ahead of the Test series.

After spending three-and-a-half hours, Yuvraj tired. He departed, caught by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin off pceman Stuart Clark to end his 200-run stand for the third wicket with opener Wasim Jaffer.

Jaffer, who had provided able support to Yuvraj by collecting runs at his own pace, could not bear the separation and was soon out, trapped leg before wicket to Stuart Clark, prompting the declaration 47 minutes after lunch.

Jaffer was unlucky to fall seven runs short of his century. His 93 came off 159 balls, 12 of which were despatched to the boundary.

The Australians got off to a shaky start with openers Simon Katich and Matthew Hayden falling cheaply. They made 5 and 14 respectively.

That brought captain Ponting and vice-captain Michael Clarke together. Both played sensibly to gain some much-needed batting practice.

Ponting especially appeared to have gained a lot of confidence as he jumped out to loft left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha for two sixes. He also moved back to cut leg-spinner and first innings hero Piyush Chawla to display deft footwork that will stand him in good stead for the Test series.

Ponting’s unbeaten 58 contained seven boundaries and two sixes while Clarke was not out on 36 after hitting five boundaries in his 70-ball knock.