India v England - Tour Match

President's XI v England XI
Jalandhar
4 Day Game
Umpires: PD Reporter & S Kishen
Toss: England XI

President's XI: P Roy, ML Jaisimha, DN Sardesai, VL Manjrekar, *L Amarnath, ED Solkar, SA Durani, S Madan Lal, +PK Sen, SP Gupte, DR Doshi.
England XI: JB Hobbs, *L Hutton, WR Hammond, DCS Compton, KF Barrington, IT Botham, +LEG Ames, GAR Lock, H Larwood, AV Bedser, DL Underwood.

A poorly prepared pitch in Jalandhar threatened to spoil England's preparations ahead of the Tests, but after a sticky first morning the tourists totally dominated their opponents, with the spin of left-armers Lock and Underwood twice running through the middle and lower order of the President's XI.

England stumbled to 72-4 on the first morning after choosing to bat on a decidedly corrugated looking strip, but Ken Barrington (61) shared in fifty stands with both Botham (44) and Ames (29) before Gupte cleaned up the tail to finish with figures of 5-67 out of England's total of 247. At 92-1 in reply, the President's XI looked in good shape midway through the second afternoon, but Lock's dismissal of Jaisimha for 46 with his first ball precipitated a collapse that sent the hosts whirling to 160 all out, with both Lock and Underwood claiming four wickets apiece. Sardesai was last out for a well-crafted 63, but other than the top three no Indian reached double figures, and over the course of the third day Len Hutton gave his hosts an object lesson in the art of batting.

Hutton cruised to an unbeaten 158 out of a second innings total of 267-2, and never once looked in trouble on a pitch that had now flattened out somewhat. A subdued Hammond (58) helped put on 169 for the second wicket after Hobbs (17) was out lbw for the second time in the match, and England's only concern was the sight of a hobbling Compton, whose knee seemed to be giving him some discomfort towards the end of his undefeated 29. Hutton's declaration set the Indians an unlikely 355 to win in just over a day, and shortly after lunch on the fourth day it was all over, the President's XI having been routed for just 87 in less than 40 overs.

All England's bowlers picked up at least one wicket, with Botham the pick of the seam attack, but it was Lock (3-6) and Underwood (2-17) who did most of the damage as only Jaisimha (15), Sardesai (24) and Durani (11) made it into double figures in what was a thoroughly abject batting display. With Laker rested but a certainty for selection for the first Test, England's selectors now have an interesting dilemma over the second spinner's spot, and there is a distinct possibility that the tourists may take the field in Mohali with a three-pronged spin attack, if pitch conditions are suitable. Whatever the final decision though, England look in good form ahead of the Test series, and we should be in for a most intriguing battle once play commences in Mohali.

Scores
England XI 1st Inns 247 (Barrington 61, Botham 44; Gupte 5-67)
President's XI 1st Inns 160 (Sardesai 63, Jaisimha 46; Lock 4-35, Underwood 4-42)
England XI 2nd Inns 267-2 dec. (Hutton 158*, Hammond 58)
President's XI 2nd Inns 87

ENGLAND XI WON BY 267 RUNS