With the prospect of a series defeat looming large, India were well aware that a big total at Headingley would go a long way to keeping their hopes - and the series - alive. Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly duly helped them on their way with a century opening stand, with half-centuries from Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh further boosting them towards an eventual 324 for 6, reports Cricinfo.
Whether it is enough, though, on a placid pitch remains to be seen - although India will back themselves to defend this total. Paul Collingwood seemed surprised to win the toss, and hesitated before fielding - expecting swinging conditions during the earlier start. Rahul Dravid said he was happy to bat, as were his team-mates, particularly against an attack shorn of Andrew Flintoff, whose ankle injury kept him out.
Not that England's bowling was particularly wayward - although Stuart Broad went for 84 from his ten - rather it was a case of some excellent batting from India, especially the openers. They hardly gave a chance during their partnership, their 24th hundred stand in ODIs, while entertaining to boot.
Facing a mountainous task overall, they took a leaf out of England's book at Old Trafford. Then the bouncing Bs of Bopara and Broad broke down their ask into small targets, going for the tens. Today it was the two Ss, Sachin and Sourav, who applied seniority and savoir-faire in laying the foundations.
They brushed off a stifling start - James Anderson and Lewis restricted them to seven from the first five overs - to post fifty in the second five overs. Half-volley, on-drive, late cut, cut - the punches rained down from Tendulkar, including a Little-Masterclass in improvisation, with a series of sweeps to delight his many fans.
England 220 for 7 wickets at 10.55 pm
India post high score of 324
FE Team | Published: September 03, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00
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