Indian pair hit centuries

Press, 20 October 1986, Page 25

Indian pair hit centuries

NZPA-Reuter Bombay Superb unbeaten centuries by Dilip Vengsarkar and Ravi Shastri gave India a commanding firstinnings lead on the fourth day of the third and final cricket test against Australia at Bombay. India declared its innings closed at 517 for five in reply to Australia’s first innings total of 345. David Boon and Geoff Marsh added nine runs in Australia’s second innings before the close, leaving Australia 163 behind. The day belonged to the Indian duo, especially Vengsarkar, who displayed every stroke in the book to score his twelfth test century and second against Australia. Vengsarkar hit a career-best 164, sending the ball 21 times to the fence and lofting it once beyond for a six. Shastri, who survived two strong appeals for 1.b.w., hit 121, including six sixes and nine fours. The pair added 298 runs for the unbroken sixthwicket partnership, an Indian record against any country. The Australian bowlers struggled throughout, the captain, Allan Border, trying a variety qf ploys without success.

Shastri took 32 minutes and 27 balls to get one run to reach his 50. He had a similar experience when he remained on 98 for half an hour before driving the paceman, David Gilbert, into the covers for two to get his 100. After reaching his century, Shastri hit the fast bowler, Bruce Reid, almost out of the stadium for a mighty six INDIA First innings S. M. Gavaskar c Ritchie b Matthews 103 K. Srikkanth c Marsh b Bright 24' K. S. More c Jones b Matthews •... 15M. Amarnath c Velatta b Matthews 35 D. B. Vengsarkar not out 164 M. Azharuddin c Velatta b Matthews 10 R. J. Shastri not out .. . 121 Extras (b 9 lbls nb2l) . . 45 Total (for 5 wkts dec.). . 517 Fall: 53, 119, 193, 205, 219. Bowling: Reid 32, 5, 81, 0; Gilbert 24, 3, 75, 0; Matthews 52, 8, 158, 4; Bright 38, 6, 109, 1; Border 10, 3, 29, 0; Waugh 14, 2, 41, 0. AUSTRALIA First innings 345 • Second innings D. C. Boon not out .... 5 G. R. Marsh not out . . . 2 Extras (nb2) 2 Total. 9 Bowling: Kapil Dev 2,1, 5, 0. Maninder Singh 2,1, >2, 0; Shastri 3,1, 2,0; Yadav 2,0, 0.