Agarkar leads charge with five wickets

Pakistan A skipper Aaqib Javed, who has the best bowling figures in the One-day cricket, lost the toss. Put into bat by Gagan Khoda because of the heavy atmosphere, the home side’s openers, Salim Elahi and Shahid Afridi began tentatively.

Agarkar gave India the breakthrough when he had Afridi caught by Mohanty for 12. The hosts suffered another quick setback when Azhar Shafiq was claimed by Mohanty after only five runs were added. The batsman returned to pavilion without scoring.

With Pakistan A in trouble and the ball seaming, the experienced Basit Ali joined Elahi and the duo batted on past lunch. They were associated in a55-run third wicket stand before Madukar claimed the Karachi batsman. Basit, who made 29 (39b, 69m), was caught by Wasim Jaffar at cover.

After the fall of third wicket at 84, the Pakistan batsmen collapsed, losing their last seven wickets for 28 runs.

Elahi waged a lone battle and was eventually out, edging Agarkar to wicket-keeper Prasad for 39 (92b, 138m). The Pakistan middle order caved in as Agarkar claimed Hassan Raza (1), Naim Ashraf and skipper Javeed in quick succession.

Mohanty chipped in with a wickets of Rana Qayyum and wicket-keeper Hamayun Farhat. Madukar completed the formalities when he had spinner Mohammed Hussain, holing out to Jatin Pranjpe for a duck.

The Pakistanis struck back immediately when skipper Javed bowled Mumbai opener Jaffar in the fifth over. Javed was ably assisted by Fazal-e-Akbar, who was with the Pakistan’s senior squad for the Independence Cup in Dhaka.

Akbar dealt India two quick blows when he claimed Pranjpe and M S K Prasad when the visitors’ total was 13.Akbar, who was on hat-trick, was denied the distinction when Abbas Ali foiled his bid. He, along with Gagan Khoda, who opened with Jaffar, took the Indians out of the woods to end the day at 43 for three.

Khoda was batting on 25 (32b, 63m) while Abbas Ali was on 13 (14b, 27m) at stumps.

SCOREBOARD

Pakistan A (first innings): Salim Elahi c Prasad b Agarkar 39, Shahid Afridi c Mohanty b Agarkar 12, Azhar Shafiq c Abbas Ali b Mohanty 0, Basit Ali c Jaffar b Madukar 29, Hasan Raza c Prasad b Agarkar 1, Rana Qayyum c Pranjpe b Mohanty 10, M Hussain c Pranjpe b Madukar 0, Humayun Farhat c Prasad b Mohanty 10, Naeem Ashraf lbw Agarkar 0, Aaqib Javed b Agarkar 0, Fazal-e-Akbar not out 0; Extras: (lb, 11nb) 12.

Total: (in 42.3 overs) 112

Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-29, 3-84, 4-85, 5-86, 6-91, 7-111, 8-112, 9-112.

Bowling: Debashish Mohanty 16.3-4-47-3, Ajit Agarkar 14-5-34-5, Madukar 11-5-16-2, Murli Kartik 1-0-4-0.

India A (first innings): Wasim Jaffar b Javed 2, Gagan Khoda batting 25, JatinPranjpe b Akbar 2, M S K Prasad b Akbar 0, Abbas Ali batting 13; Extras: (nb 1) 1.

Total: (for three wickets in 12.3 overs) 43.

Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-13, 3-13.

Bowling: Aaqib Javed 6-0-15-1, Fazal-e-Akbar 6-2-23-2, Naeem Ashraf 0.3-0-05-0.