Inclement weather stalls Agarkar fury

The touring team’s bowlers carried off from where their batsmen left yesterday, reducing the hosts to 68 for three. The 20-year-old Ajit Agarkar was the pick of the bowlers. He bowled superbly, generating considerable pace off a flat track to claim two Pakistani wickets.

He sent back the dangerous and experienced Shahid Afridi for just eight runs and the other opener Salim Elahi (25).

Murli Karthik then got rid off Bazid Khan after the latter had scored just 18 and the hosts were in deep trouble at 66 for three but were rescued by rain and bad light interruptions.

"Wehad a very good chance of bowling the Pakistanis out cheaply and then enforcing the follow on, had not the match been constantly disrupted by bad light," the Indian coach K Srikkanth said.

The first two Test matches had also been affected by inclement weather. The fourth and final match would be played in Sialkot from March 7.

SCOREBOARD

India "A" (1st innings): 557-5 decl

Pakistan "A" (1st innings): Salim Elahi c Paranjpe b Agarkar 25, Shahid Afridi c Prasad b Agarkar 8, Bazid Khan c Prasad b Karthik 18, Basit Ali batting 10, Akhtar Sarfraz batting 0; Extras (lb5, nb1, w1): 7. Total (for three wickets in 19 overs; 75 minutes) 68

Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-37, 3-66

Bowling: Agarkar 10-0-41-2, Madhukar 8-1-22-0, Karthik 1-1-0-1