India are made to toil by Somerset's Charl Willoughby
- Published
Tour match, Taunton (day two of three): |
Somerset 425-3 dec v India 138-8 |
India were made to toil on the second day of their rain-hit tour match against Somerset at Taunton.
The wet weather meant the hosts were not able to resume on their overnight score of 329-2 until mid-afternoon.
Arul Suppiah eventually fell for 156 while Chris Jones made 51 not out before Somerset declared on 425-3.
Left-arm seamer Charl Willoughby then took 5-50 as India collapsed to 132-8 by close of play, with Suresh Raina top-scoring with 30 not out.
Former South Africa international Willoughby captured the first four wickets to fall, accounting for stand-in skipper Gautam Gambhir (21), his opening partner Abhinav Mukund and the experienced Rahul Dravid, before Yuvraj Singh departed for a five-ball duck.
Sachin Tendulkar (26) soon followed and when reserve wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha was caught behind without scoring, the tourists were reeling at 90-6 before Raina steadied the ship with the aid of Zaheer Khan (15).
But Willoughby returned to claim Amit Mishra as his fifth victim as Raina was joined by tail-ender Sreesanth.
England Test captain Andrew Strauss, who is making a guest appearance for Somerset ahead of Thursday's first Test because of his own county Middlesex's lack of first-class games, had returned to form with 78 from 98 balls on day one - but spent much of the day watching Indian wickets fall.
Despite an inclement weather forecast for Sunday, India's collapse may allow him an unexpected opportunity for more time at the crease.
Meanwhile, India batsman VVS Laxman, who has been rested for this game along with skipper Mahendra Dhoni and spinner Harbhajan Singh, says the tourists are "not concerned at having only one warm-up game" before heading to Lord's to begin the Test series.
"With the hectic schedule of international cricket these days, even one such match is a luxury," said Laxman.
"When we went to the West Indies we didn't have a single warm-up game before the first Test so it is not a worry. I'm very happy with the way we have prepared for this tour.
"I am not playing against Somerset because I had three back-to-back matches at the end of the West Indies tour and it was thought better that I should rest.
"We have an experienced batting line-up, who have played in England before, and I am sure we will have some good net practice before Lord's so we will be ready for the first Test."
Tune into BBC Radio 5 live for regular updates from Taunton on India's three-day tour match against Somerset.
- Published17 July 2011