Dhoni blitz boosts India
Saturday, 11 August 2007
The fall of VVS Laxman's wicket, followed by the dismissal of Sachin Tendulkar, set India back a bit in the crucial first session of the second day's play at The Oval.
That said, India had motored along from their overnight 316 for 4 to 429 for 6, and every passing run and minute reduced England's chances of clawing back into the game and pulling off a win to deny India a series win, reports Cricinfo.
But to be fair to England, their lack of success was not linked to the effort they put in. Ryan Sidebottom endured a largely luckless second Test and this normally leaves a player with the belief that he's likely to catch a lucky break at some point soon. But catching and Matt Prior don't quite go hand-in-big-glove.
Traditionally at The Oval, there's plenty of runs, and set batsmen go on to play big innings. This makes describing every repetitious stroke difficult. On the day, though, it was hard to find new words to describe an action replay of a drop from Prior on the second day.
Laxman was the beneficiary this time as Prior leapt late and lame across to his right and parried a thick edge perfectly between Andrew Strauss at first slip and Paul Collingwood at second slip. Laxman was on 41, and smiling quietly to himself even as Sidebottom fumed all the way back to his fielding position at fine leg.
But, apart from that edge, and the one that would eventually get him, Laxman was assured and a treat to watch while at the crease. His strokes square of the wicket on both sides of the pitch were pure timing, and raced across the quick outfield in no time. Even when playing back past the bowler Laxman was all wrist, placing the ball exactly where he wanted it to go.
Fortunately for Prior a chance for redemption came along soon enough as Laxman snicked Chris Tremlett through on 51. The edge was so thin this time and carried through at such a height that Prior did not have to move an inch. He merely had to wait and close his gloves over the ball, something he managed. By then, though, the Tendulkar-Laxman partnership had added 78, and only one partnership had failed to reach 50.
Having bided his time, ignored criticism that came his way, and resisted the temptations that England's bowlers sent his way, Tendulkar set to work on the second day. After quickly scoring the two runs that he needed to reach his half-century, Tendulkar showed Michael Vaughan and England that he could still play the big shots, when he chose to.
A half-pull half-hook off Sidebottom, close to but well wide of Tremlett at fine leg, came out of nowhere, and signalled that Tendulkar was on the look-out for runs. The real gems, though, were a punchy drive through cover, standing tall and off the back foot, and a similar forcing stroke past mid-on.
A brace of boundaries against Anderson, the first past mid-on and the second through cover, one off the front foot and another off the back foot, off successive balls, took Tendulkar to 82 on the verge of lunch, and it seemed like Tendulkar's long gestation was going to pay off with a big score. Off the next ball, however, Anderson got one to leave the bat late, and Tendulkar played at the ball instead of letting it go, and fortunately Prior let it go instead of trying to interfere, and Michael Vaughan pouched the catch.
When India went in to lunch Mahendra Singh Dhoni had overcome a nervy start to reach a stroke-filled 33 and had Anil Kumble for company.
Scorecard
India 1st innings R B 4s 6s Karthikc Prior b Sidebottom 91 151 10 1
W Jaffer c Pietersen b Anderson 35 47 6 1
R Dravid b Anderson 55 101 8 0
Tendulkar c Strauss b Anderson 82 192 11 0
Ganguly lbw b Collingwood 37 77 4 1
VVS Laxman c Prior b Tremlett 51 79 8 0
MS Dhoni c Cook b Pietersen 92 81 9 4
A Kumble not out 69 135 11 0
Z Khan c Anderson b Panesar 11 52 1 0
RP Singh not out 0 2 0 0
Extras: (b 29, lb 12, w 2, nb 6) 49
Total: (8 wickets; 151.5 overs) 572 (3.76 runs per over)
India :664 (all out) A kumble 110*
That said, India had motored along from their overnight 316 for 4 to 429 for 6, and every passing run and minute reduced England's chances of clawing back into the game and pulling off a win to deny India a series win, reports Cricinfo.
But to be fair to England, their lack of success was not linked to the effort they put in. Ryan Sidebottom endured a largely luckless second Test and this normally leaves a player with the belief that he's likely to catch a lucky break at some point soon. But catching and Matt Prior don't quite go hand-in-big-glove.
Traditionally at The Oval, there's plenty of runs, and set batsmen go on to play big innings. This makes describing every repetitious stroke difficult. On the day, though, it was hard to find new words to describe an action replay of a drop from Prior on the second day.
Laxman was the beneficiary this time as Prior leapt late and lame across to his right and parried a thick edge perfectly between Andrew Strauss at first slip and Paul Collingwood at second slip. Laxman was on 41, and smiling quietly to himself even as Sidebottom fumed all the way back to his fielding position at fine leg.
But, apart from that edge, and the one that would eventually get him, Laxman was assured and a treat to watch while at the crease. His strokes square of the wicket on both sides of the pitch were pure timing, and raced across the quick outfield in no time. Even when playing back past the bowler Laxman was all wrist, placing the ball exactly where he wanted it to go.
Fortunately for Prior a chance for redemption came along soon enough as Laxman snicked Chris Tremlett through on 51. The edge was so thin this time and carried through at such a height that Prior did not have to move an inch. He merely had to wait and close his gloves over the ball, something he managed. By then, though, the Tendulkar-Laxman partnership had added 78, and only one partnership had failed to reach 50.
Having bided his time, ignored criticism that came his way, and resisted the temptations that England's bowlers sent his way, Tendulkar set to work on the second day. After quickly scoring the two runs that he needed to reach his half-century, Tendulkar showed Michael Vaughan and England that he could still play the big shots, when he chose to.
A half-pull half-hook off Sidebottom, close to but well wide of Tremlett at fine leg, came out of nowhere, and signalled that Tendulkar was on the look-out for runs. The real gems, though, were a punchy drive through cover, standing tall and off the back foot, and a similar forcing stroke past mid-on.
A brace of boundaries against Anderson, the first past mid-on and the second through cover, one off the front foot and another off the back foot, off successive balls, took Tendulkar to 82 on the verge of lunch, and it seemed like Tendulkar's long gestation was going to pay off with a big score. Off the next ball, however, Anderson got one to leave the bat late, and Tendulkar played at the ball instead of letting it go, and fortunately Prior let it go instead of trying to interfere, and Michael Vaughan pouched the catch.
When India went in to lunch Mahendra Singh Dhoni had overcome a nervy start to reach a stroke-filled 33 and had Anil Kumble for company.
Scorecard
India 1st innings R B 4s 6s Karthikc Prior b Sidebottom 91 151 10 1
W Jaffer c Pietersen b Anderson 35 47 6 1
R Dravid b Anderson 55 101 8 0
Tendulkar c Strauss b Anderson 82 192 11 0
Ganguly lbw b Collingwood 37 77 4 1
VVS Laxman c Prior b Tremlett 51 79 8 0
MS Dhoni c Cook b Pietersen 92 81 9 4
A Kumble not out 69 135 11 0
Z Khan c Anderson b Panesar 11 52 1 0
RP Singh not out 0 2 0 0
Extras: (b 29, lb 12, w 2, nb 6) 49
Total: (8 wickets; 151.5 overs) 572 (3.76 runs per over)
India :664 (all out) A kumble 110*