Dravid, Gambhir leave England trailing
Sunday, 21 December 2008
Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid put on 314, a record second-wicket stand for India against England, as the hosts made 453 on day two of the final Test, reports BBC.
The dominant partnership guided India to a formidable 320-1 after lunch.
England responded with four wickets for 19 in 11 overs, Graeme Swann (3-122) and Andrew Flintoff impressing.
Flintoff deservedly wrapped up the innings to finish with 3-54, but England were unable to begin their reply as bad light ended proceedings.
After 107.5 overs passed without a wicket between Friday morning and Saturday afternoon, England responded with four wickets in 11.1 overs.
It should have been five - and 347-6 - but Alastair Cook spilled a simple catch in the gully when Yuvraj Singh prodded at another rapid ball from the admirable Flintoff.
The first session was a continuation of day one, bat dominating ball and England's hopes of a victory to square the series fading faster than the December Punjab evening light.
Play was somehow able to begin half an hour early as planned, but with the hills shrouded in low fog and very few spectators in at 0900 local time, there was a ghostly atmosphere as England resumed their quest to take wickets.
There was no shortage of effort from the seamers, James Anderson and Flintoff unfortunate not to break through with the second new ball.
For the most part, however, Gambhir and Dravid were in control.
Only one delivery notably misbehaved off the pitch, but Dravid, fully restored to his impenetrable best, kept out the shooter from Stuart Broad.
Once again Monty Panesar presented little difficulty for them, dispatched for two fours in a single over opening spell and going for boundaries in both overs when called back prior to lunch.
In the final five overs of the session 38 were scored, 123 coming in the extended session as the Indian batsmen looked to accelerate.
If Dravid was in any way anxious, having gone 19 innings without a century, it did not show and he was calmness personified.
Gambhir, for all his powers of concentration, played some ungainly strokes, but credit must go to Swann for luring him down the pitch and finding sufficient turn to take the edge.
The dominant partnership guided India to a formidable 320-1 after lunch.
England responded with four wickets for 19 in 11 overs, Graeme Swann (3-122) and Andrew Flintoff impressing.
Flintoff deservedly wrapped up the innings to finish with 3-54, but England were unable to begin their reply as bad light ended proceedings.
After 107.5 overs passed without a wicket between Friday morning and Saturday afternoon, England responded with four wickets in 11.1 overs.
It should have been five - and 347-6 - but Alastair Cook spilled a simple catch in the gully when Yuvraj Singh prodded at another rapid ball from the admirable Flintoff.
The first session was a continuation of day one, bat dominating ball and England's hopes of a victory to square the series fading faster than the December Punjab evening light.
Play was somehow able to begin half an hour early as planned, but with the hills shrouded in low fog and very few spectators in at 0900 local time, there was a ghostly atmosphere as England resumed their quest to take wickets.
There was no shortage of effort from the seamers, James Anderson and Flintoff unfortunate not to break through with the second new ball.
For the most part, however, Gambhir and Dravid were in control.
Only one delivery notably misbehaved off the pitch, but Dravid, fully restored to his impenetrable best, kept out the shooter from Stuart Broad.
Once again Monty Panesar presented little difficulty for them, dispatched for two fours in a single over opening spell and going for boundaries in both overs when called back prior to lunch.
In the final five overs of the session 38 were scored, 123 coming in the extended session as the Indian batsmen looked to accelerate.
If Dravid was in any way anxious, having gone 19 innings without a century, it did not show and he was calmness personified.
Gambhir, for all his powers of concentration, played some ungainly strokes, but credit must go to Swann for luring him down the pitch and finding sufficient turn to take the edge.