Yardy puts Lions in command

Michael Yardy failed to replicate his first-class success in ODIs.

Michael Yardy failed to replicate his first-class success in ODIs. With a less-than-impressive show in the ODIs and with a modest average of 12.25 from six games, he was back to the grind of first-class cricket. But today, on the opening day of the Duleep Trophy match against West Zone at the Motibaug ground here, he was in his elements. He displayed character and grit to play the kind of knock he is known for back in England. His unbeaten, captain8217;s knock of 151 not only just put England Lions in command as they ended the day on an imposing 273 for four, but also made his claim for a comeback stronger.

Yardy never hurried his innings and yet played a fluid one. The southpaw looked compact and organised from the start and kept finding the occasional boundaries by dispatching the odd balls past the ropes.

When the 27-year-old found his first boundary off Ashraf Makada, it looked as if he was set for a big one. No West Zone bowler was able to probe him much as he met them all in the middle of his bat. He brought his 50, 100 and 150 in a similar fashion, each time with a four. First with a front-foot cover drive off Siddharth Trivedi to leap from 48 to 52. Then he steered the same bowler for a four at third man to bring his 12th first-class hundred. For his 150, he flicked Makada into the square-leg boundary. He was severe on Romesh Powar in the bowler8217;s fourth over. He hit the offie for two consecutive fours.

But his innings was characterised more by compactness than flamboyance. He took 291 balls for his unconquered 151 that was studded with 20 hits to the fence.

He stitched three important partnerships along the way for second, third and fourth wickets. First, with Joe Denly 32 he put on 50 runs, then with Ed Joyce 32 75 runs for the third wicket. And then with Jon Trott 44, he weaved the partnership of the day 141 runs to ensure that Lions ended the day on a high note.

What perhaps helped Yardy was the fact that he had a fair idea of the ground. In his last innings at the same ground on the adjacent track, the Sussex player made 57.

For West, the most successful bowler was Ashraf Makada, who came for the match as a replacement for Munaf Patel, with three scalps. All his victims were trapped in front of the wickets. 8220;I was bowling on the right areas, maintaining a steady line and length. The batsmen played really well, otherwise we would have got a few more wickets. Tomorrow8217;s first hour will be crucial. If we can bowl them out for 325 runs, the game is on,8221; said Makada.

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Brief scores: England Lions 273 for 4 Michael Yardy batting 151, Jon Trott 44, Joe Denly 32, Ed Joyce 32; Ashraf Makada 3/57 vs West Zone.

Manhas rescues North Zone

Meanwhile, in another Duleep Trophy match at the Madhavrao Scindia Stadium in Rajkot, Mithun Manhas8217; with a fine knock of 88, rescued North Zone to finish the day on 260 for seven against East Zone. North were reduced to 28 for 3 at one stage with Shib Sankar Paul striking early. He came in a first change bowler, and then struck twice in quick succession, sending back Aakash Chopa and then Karan Goel. The Bengal pacer returned the figures of 21-6-60-4.

But Manhas took the onus on him to bail his side out. He was finally dismissed by offie Niranjan Behera. The North skipper had 13 fours and a six in his 131-ball knock.

Brief scores: 260 for 7 Mithun Manhas 88, Amit Mishra 52, Uday Kaul not out 40; SS Paul 4/60, Debashish Mohanty 2/28 vs East Zone.