Indian bowlers sent for leather hunt,Strauss hits century

Peter Trego was giving Strauss company at 85 from a mere 57 balls.

Struggling Indian bowlers were sent for a leather hunt as England captain Andrew Strauss struck a century to take Somerset to 260 for two at tea on the final day of the three-day warm-up game.

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 was giving Strauss company at 85 from a mere 57 balls,having hit seven fours and sixes apiece.

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Somerset,who were 11 for no loss from five overs at lunch,have now taken an overall lead of 461 runs after they dismissed India for 224 in the morning session though the game will not produce a result.

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.

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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.