Date-stamped : 01 Feb95 - 10:31 England "A" v India "A", Test 2 played at Eden Gardens, Calcutta, 27-31 January 1995 ====> Day 1, 27 Jan 95 England A bowlers run through India in second "Test" Dominic Cork spearheaded the England A attack which bowled India A out for a paltry 216 on the opening day of the second five day international at Eden Gardens here Friday. Cork took three wickets for 48 and the tourists, who lead 1-0 in the three-match series, were surprised to find a wicket that assisted seam in the morning and spin towards the close, after the home team won the toss and elected to bat. England had India A reeling at 47 for four within the first hour and appeared to have tightened the noose when the home side slipped to 123 for eight midway through the afternoon session. Derbyshire all-rounder Cork picked up three of the first four wickets. He was supported by new ball partner Greg Chapple's three for 37 and left-arm spinner Richard Stamp's two for 33. India A were saved by left-hander Utpal Chatterjee, who remained unbeaten on a defiant 72 and dominated stands for the last two wickets which realised a valuable 93 runs. Chatterjee, in the team as a left-arm spinner, revelled on his home turf to keep the rampaging English bowlers at bay for three-and-a-half hours. He hit eight boundaries. He was helped by test discard Rajesh Chauhan, who made 19 in a ninth wicket stand of 71, and 12 from last man Paras Mhambrey. England A, without batsman Mark Ramprakash -- flown out to Australia to bolster the injury-ridden senior team -- will begin their reply on Saturday. The tourists brought in Bombay-born spinner Minal Patel to replace Paul Weekes, who failed with both bat and ball during the four-wicket victory in the first test in Bangalore earlier this month. (Thanks : Kuldip Lal, AFP) Contributed by Ram.Krishnan (rkrishna@garnet.acns.fsu.edu) ====> Day 4, 30 Jan 95 Second "test" set for keen finish England A, needing 254 to win the second five-day international against India A for a decisive 2-0 lead in the three-match series, were 80 for two by the close of the fourth day's play at the Eden Gardens [Calcutta] here Monday. The tourists, who won the opening encounter at Bangalore earlier this month, appeared inspired by their senior team's sensational victory in the fourth test against Australia, as they wriggled out of a tight situation. The Indian second string, desperate to salvage the series, were in command midway through the afternoon session when they moved to 300 for four in their second knock -- an overall lead of 200. But just as the news of England's victory in the Adelaide test trickled in at the Eden Gardens, the tourists went on the attack and grabbed the last six wickets for 53 runs to bowl India A out for 353 at the stroke of tea. Allrounder Dominic Cork finished with three for 53 while spinners Richard Stemp, Ian Salisbury and Minal Patel shared two wickets each. England A, who had lost six wickets while chasing a victory target in the Bangalore "test," began on the wrong foot when Michael Vaughan was trapped leg before by part-time seamer Saurav Ganguly at the score of four. New batsmen Jason Gallian and opener Nick Knight however retrieved the situation with a 73-run stand for the second wicket which took the score to 77 for one. But just when the batsmen apperared set to carry the battle to the fifth day, Gallian attempted a wild heave off spinner Rajesh Chauhan and was stumped. He made 37 off 65 balls with five boundaries. Knight, the Essex left-hander, was still there at close on a hard-hit 39 which included a boundary and two huge sixes off left-arm spinner Utpal Chatterjee. Nightwatchman Minal Patel had yet to score from 13 deliveries, and will resume with Knight on Tuesday with England A needing a further 174 runs with eight wickets in hand on a slow turner. (Thanks : Kuldip Lal, AFP) Contributed by Ram.Krishnan (rkrishna@garnet.acns.fsu.edu) ====> Day 5, 31 Jan 95 Super sub Hemp wins it for England A Super sub David Hemp inspired England A`s "no hopers" to a crucial second `test` and series win against their Indian coun- terparts here on Tuesday. But the Glamorgan left-hander, who appeared to have reached his century with his winning hit, was later denied that honour by the umpires. The tourists made light of a fourth innings target of 254 on a wearing track to win by five wickets, a day after England`s senior team`s sensational win over Australia in the Adelaide test. The emphatic triumph gave England A a 2-0 lead in the three-match series. "These have been two good days for us," skipper Allan Wells said. "Yesterday, the seniors won in Australia and now we have wrapped up the series. "Before the tour, we were rated as a bunch of no hopers since most of the boys had little experience of Indian conditions. But we have answered our critics well." Hemp, the Glamorgan left-hander, seemed to have reached 100 not out with the final stroke, hitting three off spinner Rajesh Chauhan, but umpires S.K. Bansal and A.V. Jayaprakash later ruled the final run invalid and downgraded his score to 99. Hemp only came into the side after Mark Ramprakash flew to Australia to reinforce the injury-hit senior team. His effort included 13 boundaries and two sixes in a three- and-a-half-hour stay at the crease. He shored up the innings with Wells (85), the pair adding 155 for the fifth wicket after Eng- land lost two quick wickets in the opening quarter of an hour to stutter to 82 for four. England A, beginning the day on 80 for two, had lost nightwatchman Min Patel and Nick Knight within three balls. Patel was trapped leg before by leg spinner Sairaj Bahutule in the fourth over and in the next Knight was stumped off Chauhan for 37. Indian manager Sandeep Patil conceded: "Our youngsters should learn from the professional approach of the English- men. They stuck to their task better than us." Source :: Agence France Presse Contributed by Ram.Krishnan (rkrishna@garnet.acns.fsu.edu)