India struggle as Strauss shines

Andrew Strauss won his first battle of the summer with Zaheer Khan on a rain-interrupted opening day of India's tour match against Somerset at Taunton.

The England captain, making a guest appearance for the county, hit 78 off 98 balls, including 16 fours, to play himself into form ahead of the first Test at Lord's next week.
Strauss survived a confident lbw shout from Zaheer on 20 and was later dropped by wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha off Amit Mishra on 64, but otherwise capitalised on a flat pitch to demonstrate an array of positive shots all around the wicket.
His efforts helped Somerset to 329 for two on a tough day for India's bowlers. Arul Suppiah hit an unbeaten 145 and Nick Compton 88 as Zaheer, Shantha Sreesanth, Munaf Patel and Yuvraj Singh all ended wicketless.
When Somerset captain Alfonso Thomas won the toss, Strauss found himself walking out before a packed County Ground crowd in bright conditions made for batting.
He confidently tucked the first ball of the match from Zaheer through mid-wicket for two and collected a couple more off the second delivery with a defensive push through mid-off.
Zaheer looked to be easing himself back into action after his long break following the Indian Premier League, but gradually increased his pace.
Leg-spinner Mishra offered a bigger threat, with a well disguised googly, and it was he who made the breakthrough with the total on 101 as Strauss got an inside edge onto his thigh pad and saw the ball loop up for Saha to take a simple catch.
Strauss had reached his half-century off 63 balls with a series of well-timed drives, pulls and back-foot forcing shots and could hardly have hoped for a better confidence lift after his problems against Sri Lanka.
Three of his fours came in a single over from Sreesanth.
He dominated the opening stand with Suppiah, who made only 17 in the morning session, which ended with Somerset 107 for one.
With only a further eight runs added, rain interrupted play for the first time. The players returned to the field at 3.20pm local time with seven overs lost.
On the resumption, Suppiah came out of his shell, reaching his fifty with an elegant off drive for four off Zaheer. He had faced 122 balls and it was his seventh boundary.
Compton reached his half-century off 74 balls and India's problems worsened when Mishra was forced off for attention to a hand injury sustained when dropping a caught and bowled chance offered by Suppiah on 71.
More rain came with the score on 241 for one and Suppiah on 94. Most of the crowd headed for home, but there was a resumption at 6pm and the opener went on to three figures off 179 balls, with 11 fours.
Compton looked set to follow him to his hundred, but surrendered his wicket on 88, reverse sweeping a catch to short third man off Suresh Raina, who finished with one for 42 from eight overs.