Yuvraj claims maiden fifer against England, match ends in draw

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Comeback man Yuvraj Singh proved he was ready for national duty in whites with his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket as England's warm-up game against India A ended in an expected draw at the Brabourne Stadium on Thursday afternoon.

The 30-year-old Yuvraj grabbed five for 94, improving upon his previous best of three for 25, as India A dismissed the visitors for 426 in their first innings, conceding a 57-run lead.

Yuvraj, who had scalped Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell on Wednesday, added the wickets of Samit Patel (104), Matt Prior (51) and James Anderson (19) in the morning session on the final day of the warm-up game after England resumed play at 286 for four.

Even more than the number of wickets, however, Yuvraj would be pleased with his scalps -- adding centurion Patel and the dangerous Prior to those of Pietersen and Bell.

India A scored 124 for four in 40 overs on Thursday before play was called off ahead of the scheduled close by mutual consent.

Openers Abhinav Mukund (3) and Murali Vijay (32), Yuvraj (14) and Ajinkya Rahane (54) were the batsmen out in the home side's second innings.

Mukund and Vijay were dismissed by Anderson while Tim Bresnan sent back Yuvraj, who has come back to top level cricket after undergoing treatment for cancer that put him out of the game for close to a year.

Rahane hit six shots to the fence before Samit Patel had him caught at slip. Captain Suresh Raina (19) and Manoj Tiwary (2) were unbeaten at stumps at close.

Raina was lucky to be dropped on nought by Anderson at second slip off Bresnan and his stay at the crease later too was unconvincing against Bresnan's pace.

England now take on Mumbai A in their second warm-up game at Navi Mumbai's DY Patil Stadium from November 3 before proceeding to Ahmedabad for the third and final practice match, a four-day tie, against Haryana from November 8-11.

The opening Test of the four-match series versus India is set to commence at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad from November 15-19.