Suresh Raina smashed an explosive century to take India XI to 224 but failed to save his side from conceding a huge first innings lead to Somerset on the final day of their three-day game here on Sunday.
The left-hander smashed an unbeaten 103 off just 112 balls with the help of 14 boundaries and five sixes, and shared a 84-run stand for the last wicket with Munaf Patel (6).
India conceded a 201-run lead after Somerset had posted 425 for three declared in its first innings.
The visitor, resuming at 138 for eight, lost overnight batsman S. Sreesanth (1) straightaway, giving left-arm paceman Charl Willoughby his sixth wicket of the innings.
TAKING CHARGE
Raina then decided to take charge. He took 18 off Alfonso Thomas' next over from the other end — a four, followed by a six over midwicket and two more boundaries.
He soon reached his half-century off 73 balls with nine fours and a six.
Raina then turned his attention to Willoughby, striking him for three sixes, each bigger than the previous one, as he marched towards a century.
The left-hander, eventually, drove one past mid-off to reach a well-deserved hundred.
Munaf, who lasted 52 minutes and faced 24 deliveries, was then dismissed leg-before by part-time leg-spinner Max Waller, a decision the tall medium-pacer was not happy with at all.
India made 86 runs on the final morning with Raina contributing 73 of them.
ANOTHER CHANCE
Somerset did not enforce the follow-on in a bid to give England captain Andrew Strauss another opportunity to make runs ahead of the first Test at Lord's from July 21.
Strauss made 78 in the first innings here.
For India, Zaheer Khan did not open the bowling in the second innings.
The scores:
Somerset — 1st innings: 425 for three decl.
India XI — 1st innings: A. Mukund lbw b Willoughby 18, G. Gambhir c Buttler b Willoughby 21, R. Dravid c Hildreth b Willoughby 17, S. Tendulkar c Buttler b Meschede 26, Yuvraj lbw b Willoughby 0, S. Raina (not out) 103, W. Saha c Buttler b Trego 0, Zaheer b Thomas 15, A. Mishra c Jones b Willoughby 6, S. Sreesanth b Willoughby 1, Munaf lbw b Waller 6; Extras (b-4, lb-1, w-3, nb-3): 11; Total (in 52.4 overs): 224.
Fall of wickets: 1-32, 2-51, 3-72, 4-76, 5-89, 6-90, 7-123, 8-132, 9-140.
Somerset bowling: Willoughby 20-7-76-6, Thomas 15-2-83-1, Trego 11-2-39-1, Meschede 5-2-14-1, Waller 1.4-0-7-1.
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