England vs India day 5

If there were any doubts of how big this match is then all you have to be is see the line which was outside the ground of Lords. They were going miles back some say 5 miles back. Many fans were disappointed as an record 28,000 Lords crowd came out. The atmosphere was electric with probably 50-50 split in fans. Maybe England having an few more fans. All to see if India can hold on or if England can take an dramatic win. People queuing from 2 o clock in the morning.

The fans were pumped and so were the players as an dramatic morning folded out. First blood nearly went to England as Bell dropped an really difficult chance at bat pad. Tremlett was steaming in as he was giving everything for the England cause. He was bowling much fuller and more accurate. It was backed up with really good bowling by Anderson who was steaming in at good pace and was seaming the ball right and left. With Anderson finding his rhythm Laxman and Dravid was finding it hard to get settled and that finally did the trick as England got an break through as Dravid went fishing an ball at off stump. Dravid was annoyed but England were delighted as Prior did the rest. England really buoyed with that wicket they were really firing in as Gambhir was the new batsman. Broad nearly got him with an LBW decision but it was rightly turned again. India finally made it to 100 after 38 overs. It was clear that they were playing for the draw at this point and just about got to drinks at 105-2.

This was an real showing of the word test and this tension was evident as Broad came into the attack and his first over again thought he had Laxman. It wasnt given but it was reviewed and it went in the batsman favour. Laxman is known for his fighting spirit and it was evident as he got hit on the body twice but he was fighting in there and reached an fighting 50 off 104 balls with 8 fours. India were looking good with an 1 hour and 30 minutes into the session they were 1 wicket down 127-2 and maybe they might go for the score at this moment. Him and Gambhir were showing there quality. As he got 56 Laxman played an horrible slog which went straight to Bell and England got an break through at 131-3. As it was 12.30 Tendulkar was the new man in after recovery from his illness. He got another standing ovation from the Lords crowd. But it was nearly over in the first ball as Anderson got an beauty which was too good to hit luckily. England on the front foot brought on Swann who did the trick as England got another big wicket as he trapped Gambhir and England were in dream land as they were now 6 wickets away from winning. Brought out Raina. England knowing an couple of more wickets and they are into the tail. Tendulkar scored his first boundary and showed off his class. Him and Raina were able to get to lunch without any more trouble at 142-4. The win is now not possible for India so wickets are the key to see who wins.

The equation very simple for both teams India to survive 2 sessions and England to get 6 wickets within 2 sessions. With that in mind Tendulkar started to play negatively. He was playing for the team while Raina tried to keep the score ticking from his side. With that England were able to build pressure on him and they thought they had broken through the defence when Broad had him plub in front. Somehow the umpire turned it down even though it could not have been anything else. DRS would have given it out if in place. Then Tendulkar bowled got stuck on 11 for 34 balls. The 35 ball he was able to get another run and then which might have been an turning point when Anderson followed Tendulkar's bat as he tried to leave the ball the ball followed him and it edged to Strauss which should have been an simple catch but it was dropped. An huge life for the great man but his luck was going to run out as Anderson got an ball to jack back to plum LBW and this time was given and England were in ecstatic as that was the wicket they wanted. With 58 overs to go. MS Dhoni comes in. They thought they had Raina when he was stumped at his crease but replays showed he just got back in time to save himself.

Dhoni decided the best way to counter this England attack was to play an counter attacking game and went after the bowling as well. Seeing the bowling the old ball wasnt having much effect they desperately tried to get through some overs. The runs were coming easier and they got to 200 quite quickly. They got to an 50 partnership in style with Raina hitting 2 to also get to his 50 as India were 212-5. The over before the new ball is taken Pietersen thought he had his man when he trapped him in front but he was given not out and it was shown to be an good decision. The new ball was taken the next over. Even though no wicket fell in the first over England will be glad to have the new ball an over before tea so that there new ball bowlers can steam in with an fresh ball. Another super session had gone by with India 218-5 with 44 overs remaining after tea for India to survive and for England 5 wickets.

Final push as this was the final session in 2000th test match and 100th against each other at the home of cricket. 4 overs into the final session an huge roar went up in Lords as Dhoni fished outside off stump an ball from Tremlett and went nicely towards Prior. England knew this early break through was big as the batting to come wasnt too strong. For England they knew the last real resistant came with Harbhajan Singh. Raina and Harbhajan were playing really valiantly as they survived over after over. Harbhajan Singh the less convincing as he was trying to attack the bowling and seeing this Raina tried to take as much responsibility as possible. Harbhajan did score an couple of fours. England needed an break through so they went to Broad and he bowled an perfect Yorker to Raina which was even more plum than the Tendulkar one which was given not out and it was rejected. Broad could not believe the decision asked why and the umpire said bat which was far from the truth. Could that be an turning point wrong as Anderson on the other end got Harbhajan. Harbhajan played an terrible slog which Tremlett caught easily. Now only 3 wickets to go including an injured Zaheer Khan who cant run. Plenty of overs left as there were 31 overs to go at drinks.

Despite making 250 straight after drinks put the finishing touches was as Broad bowled Kumar for 2 while Anderson got out the prize wicket as Raina edged an ball from Anderson and Prior caught easily for Anderson to take 5 wickets as he lead the team fantastically well as Raina went out for an brilliant 78 off 138 with 10 fours. An couple of overs later Broad finished things off by hitting Sharma straight in front. England jubilant while India seemed deflated as England won by an massive 196 runs. For Strauss's men bowling India out twice under 300 and declaring twice would go towards on one the most finest wins against an fine team. For India they will be licking there lips as everything which could have gone wrong did with injuries rash strokes and never getting the rub of the green.

The man of the match was Pietersen for his double century but really it was an huge team effort. There were many candidates like Prior putting in 2 big innings when they needed it. Broad returning to form with ball and bat as he develops into an fine all-rounder or Anderson way he lead the team on the final day. They go to Nottingham with great anticipation while for India its about going back to the drawing board and find that form they seemed to find later in the series as known as slow starters. Replacements will have to be found for Zaheer and maybe other replacements because of lack of form for other players but never rule out an team like India who will surely fight back. But what ever they do they have to do quick as the next test is in 4 days time and things like fielding really needs to sorted out by the next test match.