07 August,2011 07:27 AM IST | | A correspondent
After being battered in the first two Tests and then in the warm-up tie, India managed to salvage some pride by claiming seven wickets in the final session to restrict Northamptonshire to 355 for seven on the final day here.
Amit Mishra scored 61 and took two wickets. Pic/Clayton Murzello
The visitors claimed seven wickets in the final session with six of them coming in just 74 balls conceding 40 runs.
Leg-spinner Amit Mishra was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets for 70 while medium-pacers Munaf Patel and Sreesanth took two wickets apiece.
Northamptonshire made 355 for seven from the day's play replying to India's 352 all out and were deemed winners on the basis of first innings. The Indians were sent on a leatherhunt by Northamptonshire in the first two sessions even though the tourists managed a few late wickets at the county ground here.
The openers for Northamptonshire, Mal Loye (100) and Niall O' Brien (117) hit individual centuries and added 201 runs for the first wicket. Loye and O' Brien who have played one-day internationals for England and Ireland, respectively.
While Loye hit 13 fours and two sixes from 149 balls, O Brien smashed 17 fours in his knock from 172 balls. Loye was the first one to fall when he drove Munaf Patel to covers where Mahendra Singh Dhoni made no mistake.
Brief scores: Indians 352 (Mukund 113) vs Northamptonshire 355/7 (N O'Brian 117, M Loye 100; Amit Mishra 2-64)
