Samit Patel produced a third successive knock of50-plus for England, slamming 67 against Haryana on the second day Friday of afour-day practice game to boost his chances of playing in the four-test seriesagainst India.
Patel's knock helped England score 521 in its first inningswith wicketkeeper Matt Prior also chipping in with a brisk 41.
At stumps, Haryana was 172-4 in reply with opener RahulDewan on 77 and Sandeep Singh on 2.
Patel, who scored 104 in the first practice game againstIndia A and 60 in the second match against Mumbai A, struck 13 fours during his105-ball knock on Friday.
England could add only 113 after resuming on 408-3, withspinners Amit Mishra and Jayant Yadav finishing with four wickets each.
Patel, one of two left-arm spinners in the team along withMonty Panesar, made the most of another batting chance and could partneroffspinner Graeme Swann as England hopes to do well on slow Indian pitches inan effort to win its first test series here in 28 years.
Swann is not playing in this game as he had to fly home tosee his ill daughter but is expected back in time for the first test inAhmedabad from Nov. 15.
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Scores:
England 521 (Kevin Pietersen 110, Alastair Cook 97, NickCompton 74, Samit Patel 67, Ian Bell 62, Jonathan Trott 46, Matt Prior 41; AmitMishra 4-67, Jayant Yadav 4-110) led Haryana 172-4 (Rahul Dewan 77 not out,Sunny Singh 55; Tim Bresnan 2-47).