Related Links : India’s tour of England : Scorecard
Drama unfolded on the second day’s play at Lord’s with as many as ten wickets going down. Despite rain and thunderstorms in the first session, more than 67 overs were possible. India made a marvelous comeback by bundling out England inside 300 but are at a shaky 145 for 4 in their first innings.
The star of the day was Sreesanth who was well complemented by the other two pacers as India picked up six wickets conceding just the 30 runs! The Indians struck right away with the second new ball with RP Singh going through the defenses of the night watchman Ryan Sidebotom whose stay was for total of 15 balls only. In the next over, Kevin Pietersen was given caught behind off Zaheer Khan only for the decision to be reversed. KP drove away from his body to get an edge that was taken on the bounce by an unsure MS Dhoni. Umpire Simon Taufel gave that out and the batsman was on his way back but was called back to resume his innings. Every minute was eventful, the next over from Sreesanth saw a top edge off an Ian Bell fly out of the ground. Pietersen didn’t make India pay much for being called back as he was forced to nick a fantastic away going delivery from Zaheer which was cleanly taken by Dhoni. It was a back of length delivery pitching on the middle and most importantly on the seam to deviate just enough to get a faint edge off KP. Pietersen added just three runs to his overnight score of 34.
The rest of the show belonged to Sreesanth, who pitched the ball up and got the swing back into the batsmen. He got three lbw in his favour, all of them being plumb in front. It started off with the attacking Prior playing right across and in the same over debutant Chris Tremlett getting one straight onto his stumps to have England at 287 for 8. Soon Monty Panesar also fell leg before to Sreesanth and the finishing act was done by Zaheer Khan as Ian Bell played onto hus stumps in his backfoot defence. Bell ran out of partners, getting just 24 balls to face in which he had got 20 runs.
A fabulous one hour it was for India capturing six English wickets with the second new ball in about 9 overs! Sreesanth took 3 for 67 in 22 overs including 8 maidens which he thought were good in relaxing his nerves. The two left armers Zaheer Khan and RP Singh took a couple of wickets each and so did Kumble. India had to bat out a few overs before Tea which they did losing Dinesh Karthik and Rahul Dravid. Wasim Jaffer would have been out for a duck for a simple catch put down by Prior behind the stumps off Sidebottom. The bowling was mostly short from Sidebottom but when he did pitch it up, he got good amount of swing and one of those deliveries got Dinesh Karthik caught in the crease. The big blow came when Rahul Dravid nicked an outswinger that was shaping into him from Jimmy Anderson. At 36 for 2, England would have felt that they have made the inroads at the end of a disappointing session for them.
After Tea, Wasim Jaffer continued to make steady progress while Tendulkar collected the runs which made him surpass Steve Waugh to become the third highest run getter in Tests. Tendulkar also got to his highest score at Lord’s beating the previous one of 31 but his promising stay came to an end to a sharp inswinger from Anderson that got him lbw. India were 106 for 3 with Tendulkar making 37 from 78 with six fours. Wasim Jaffer after getting his 7th fifty shut his shop rather too soon and his partnership with new man Sourav Ganguly was a snail paced one. Jaffer paid price for being over cautious as he was superbly caught off his own bowling by Chris Tremlett. It was a short and rising delivery which Jaffer had fended off uncomfortably to get out for 58 from 156 balls with 7 fours. India sent in a night watchman in the form of RP Singh who almost ran himself out after going for a non existent single towards Monty at mid off. RP Singh who was sent back by Ganguly after almost making it to the latter’s end was quick enough to dive into his crease to save his wicket. India ended the day’s play at 145 for 4 in 57 overs, clearly working hard for their runs. Sourav Ganguly is on 25 from 61 with 3 fours and was suffering from a slight tinge in his lower back.
This opening test looks to be a real exciting one with lots of twists and turns. India would look to get as close as possible to England’s 298 and then look to get a sizeable first innings lead. The English attack hasn’t looked special but there is some spirit among the young bowlers.