Spinners Murali Kartik and Amit Mishra shared seven wickets between themselves as India 'A' took a comfortable first innings lead despite a fine century by Gordon Muchall on the third day of the four-day cricket match against Durham county at the Riverside stadium in Chester-le-Street on Sunday.

Durham declared their first innings at 333 for nine, 149 runs behind the India 'A' score of 482-9 declared. By the end of the day, India 'A' had scored three runs without loss in their second essay to extend their lead to 152.

The star of the day for the hosts was the 21-year-old all-rounder Muchall, who batted for close to five hours to compile a 121-run knock that included 12 boundaries. Muchall put on 139 runs for the second wicket with Michael Gough who scored a gutsy 56 from more than four hours of batting.

However, once leg-spinner Amit Mishra got rid of Gough, stumped by wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel, the Indians were able to claim wickets at regular intervals.

Gary Pratt (10) and Nicky Peng (5) were dismissed cheaply by Kartik, who finished with four wickets for 112 runs, before Mishra produced the big wicket of Muchall at the score of 240.

A defiant eighth wicket stand of 66 between Ian Hunter and Nick Phillips saw Durham crossing the 300-run mark. Hunter made a quickfire 44 from 54 balls with five fours and a six, while Phillips contributed 19, before Kartik broke the partnership.

Durham declared their innings shortly before close. Just three overs were possible in India 'A' second innings and all the three runs were scored by first innings centurion, captain Shiv Sunder Das.