After an poor day for the Indians last night the Indians knew they had an big morning ahead of them as they battle to try and save this match or even steal an victory. But to win they will have to have an brilliant morning session to have any chance of that happening. The situation wasnt help with the news that Tendulkar became ill during the night and will not take to the field in the morning session. The rule means if he is off for longer than 2 hours then how ever long he is off for he cannot bat till that time or if India are 5 down he then will be able to come in. A blow for India as they try to get onto the front foot in this match. This is on the back of losing Zaheer's bowling. For England it was simple bat India out of the game and put them in with maybe an session to ball at them with.
Strauss started off in positive fashion as he was going after the bowling from the word go while Cook was trying to anchor at the other end. Cook was also struggling with Kumar swing as he was able to move the ball either way. This confession played in Cook's mind and and he went for an ball which just swung away and an faint knick and Cook was gone for just 1. An rare poor test match for him. Strauss and Trott did steady the ship for England. Wary of having to be an little bit careful. This was the most comfortable Strauss had looked in an England shirt this summer. They carefully got England to within 50 when Trott went for an risky run an direct hit but replays showed he was in and was given not out as after 19 overs England were 50-1 at drinks.
What ever Dhoni said after the drinks break worked brilliantly. Strauss missed an sweep from Harbhajan delivery and he was plum LBW. Inspired by that wicket Sharma bowled one of the best spells of fast bowling there ever has been. He first got Pietersen out through an snorter of an delivery which was unplayable and got an feather on it. Super bowling nothing Pietersen could do for it out for 1. In Sharma's next over he gave Bell an real good full ball which Bell played an uncertain poke and and Dhoni caught easily and then got bowled an perfect Yorker to get Trott. Unplayable again and ripped middle stump as England were from 54-1 to 62-5 and Sharma was doing all the damage. It brought Morgan and Prior to the crease. With Sharma tail up he bowled some beauties that no batsman would be good enough to touch. Even though there were an few play and misses these 2 were able to guide England to lunch at 72-5. England in trouble but having the luxury being 260 ahead overall. This set up an big afternoon session. Any chance of India winning would rely on and strong start to the afternoon session. India knowing another 2 more wickets and they are into the England tail.
With that in mind the two players play cautiously. Knowing another 100-130 runs would take it out of reach for India. Both batsman positive players being in an difficult position. Being positive players they tried to build an partnership like an one style by really pushing hard in the running between wicket trying to covert those 1s into 2s and try and keep the board ticking while waiting for the bad balls. This approach got them steadily to 100 without losing another wicket. An strange decision that Sharma the man who was on fire before lunch hadnt had an ball and the steam of the Indian attack seamed to have fallen. It wasnt till 35 minutes after lunch he was given another ball and straight away he made the ball do something. England players struggled in his first over and his second over he got Morgan driving an ball which was caught well low down by Gambhir. As it was an close catch it was referred upstairs by the umpire but the catch was clean and England were 107-6 and 295 ahead. If India had any chance of winning this was it. They needed to ball the team out soon. The chase would still be massive however chase-able amount for India. India knowing Broad is the last proper batsman as there all-rounder. Sharma had figures of 4-17 in his last 15 overs as he was on fire in bring India back into this match.
This pair were able to get to drinks without any more alarms and scoring another 11 more runs. There were just over 50 minutes left on this session and this last 50 minutes was key for both teams in how this match will pan out. The Indian pressure continued straight after tea as they really attacked and tried to get the wickets the needed. 20 minutes of really pressure and energy given by the Indians however Broad and Prior were able to withstand the pressure and the bowler light showed after that. The steam of Sharma had run out and Kumar was not posing any more threat and Harbhajan wasnt holding up one end for the seamer's and Broad and Prior really made them pay in the last 40 minutes of the session. knowing the batsman were tired they really started pushing for every run as each run now started to hurt. The lead went over 300 then 310 then 320 then 330 and so and the match was just about slipped away from then. For India the fielding was poor and the frustration was clear for everyone to see. To add insult to injury Gambhir was hit by an Prior sweep which hit his elbow and the injury looked painful as he went to hospital to get that checked out. The 50 partnership was done in no time in just 61 balls and Prior made his 50 soon afterwards off just 78 balls with only 2 fours. It showed his running between the wickets has been mighty impressive. By this time the lead was over 350 and by tea they were 174-6 meaning they are 362 ahead with England scoring 102 runs for the loss of just 1 wicket.
There was better news for India as Tendulkar was finally well enough to come to the ground just before tea and will take his place after tea. Being off the field for so long meant that he wont bat till half past 12 in the afternoon tomorrow or 5 wickets are down. The final session was more when will they declare not if anyone. The tiredness of India fielders and bowlers were there to see as Broad and Prior really started to punishing the bowling.
Wasn't long after tea England made there 200 as they looked for quick runs. It was soon followed an over later with Broad scoring an vital 50 runs when England were still in trouble. He got it in 76 balls with 6 fours. Every few overs another mental battle won as the lead 2 overs later went over 400. The runs were flowing off the bat at will now as Dhoni was setting negative fields. The 100 partnership was the next target these accomplished in just 129 balls and each over was now just going for minimum of 6 an over and most of the time more than that. And that shows as they raced to an 150 stand in just 162 balls as they were tearing this attack away as they raced to 250. Still no declaration as it seemed they wanted Prior to get to his century and did so an few overs later as he hit an boundary to get century off just 120 balls with 5 fours and an 6 showing that running between the wickets is just as important as hitting boundaries to get the score ticking along nicely. As soon as that happened they Declared to give India just under 2 hours to survive. Target 458 most likely out of reach and most likely to go for an draw.
Dravid was going to open for India as Gambhir was getting checked over by the medics. England once again started off poorly as Tremlett and Anderson were not getting the ball up with the new ball. He quickly turned to the man was under pressure at the start but was playing an match winning all-rounders job. In his first over he pitched the ball up to Mukund and once again he edged it onto his stumps. Some may say that is unlucky and other say that is the reward for pitching it up it can happen. With Gambhir still away and Tendulkar not able to bat till 12.30 PM tomorrow Laxman was up at number 3. With the confidence of the first wicket he really got an good rhythm in his bowling. This felling rubbed off on Tremlett and he was getting the ball fuller and it was causing problems for the batsman. Despite having plays and misses and unplayable balls Dravid and Laxman were able to hang in there as they have done for India so many times. An couple of LBW shouts but the umpires were having an brilliant game getting them spot on and turning down appeals. They played very watchfully as they knew they could not give away there wicket tonight. Slowly but surely they got use to the pitch conditions and were finding it easier to play. England turned to Swann for control but he was balling an bit short and the Indian are the best to play spin especially Dravid and Laxman.
They got to the team 50 in the start of the 20th over as they were finding the gap a bit more and moving there feat really well. To there standards they reached an quite an quick 50 partnership off just 84 balls. After that 30 minute period of difficulty the Indians were not troubled too much until the last 10 minutes were Anderson finally got the ball to do move around. He bowled an bit fuller and it was an difficult for the batsman. In the back of there minds knowing losing an wicket now would be disaster for India. Despite an late burst by Anderson and Tremlett near the end these 2 experienced players hung on at an impressive 80-1 with Dravid on 34 NO and Laxman on 32 NO.
India needing another 378 only an outside chance of that happening in the last day but the draw for India is the most likely aim. For England simple they need 9 wickets they have done most of the running and will be inching to finish off the job but England knowing it wont be easy with this world class battling line up. They will have to ball better than they did in this final session. Set up an thrilling final day for the 2000th test match and 100th match between England and India. Also the fairytale of Tendulkar getting an 100 100s at Lords for the first time promises to be an thrilling last day. The pitch has stayed true throughout something there for the bowlers and still flat enough for the batsman if you play well can get runs.
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