Date-stamped : 10 Jan97 - 14:15
Report- Rediff on the Net

Lancashire pip India A despite Kambli's heroics

Lancashire Cricket Club, from England, defeated an India A
outfit by two wickets at the Eden Gardens, Calcutta, on Thursday
in a 50-over exhibition match.

India A scored 231 for four wickets in the stipulated 50 overs,
in reply to which Lancashire made 235 for eight wickets in 49.4
overs.

The India A innings was marked by a cavalier knock of 87 not out
by India star Vinod Kambli, and his 109-run fourth wicket
partnership with Robin Singh (57) which guided the home side to
a score of 231 for four.

Kambli's knock, which strengthened his claim for a berth in the
Indian side that will play a triangular series against South
Africa and Zimbabwe beginning later this month, came after
Lancashire's bowlers Glenn Cappell, Peter Martin and Richard
Green (the first two have done duty for the England national
side, incidentally) reduced the home side to 333/2, and 71/3.

Kambli in fact came to the wicket after Ajay Jadeja, whose
middle order pyrotechnics in recent one-day internationals, had
fallen cheaply, caught and bowled by Peter Martin for 11 off 20
balls. The Indian left-hander, dropped from both the Test and
one-day sides after the Wills World Cup in February 1996,
established his form in no uncertain terms, hitting both the
pacemen and spinners hard and often.

Kambli stepped up his assault a notch after he was joined at the
wicket by Robin Singh, another aspirant for a ticket to South
Africa. The two went after the Lancashire bowling with a flurry
of big hits and brisk singles, putting on 109 runs of which
Singh contributed 57 off 58 deliveries, while Kambli remained
unbeaten on 87 off 111 balls with five fours.

(Report incomplete).

Source :: Rediffusion on the Net (http://www.redifindia.com/)

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