After a exciting day of cricket yesterday it was lined up to be another super day of this ever changing test match. The match is on a knife-edge with India slightly ahead as they got that late wicket and Trott not being 100% fit but Broad has dragged England with a shout of coming back into this thrilling test match after his hat-trick of day 2.
England came out positively as t hey looked to wipe out the deficit quickly as possible. Bell and Strauss quickly got into there stride. The deficit quickly went down from 43 at the start of the day. They raced to 50 in no time as if England were in an hurry to get this game over quickly. But being 10 behind Strauss went for an shot that maybe he should not have gone for and as he went half heartedly at the ball just edged it finely to Dhoni from an Sreesanth ball and once again Strauss making an start and not converting. Out for 16 and still 10 runs behind as Kevin Pietersen coming out to bat and still not knowing if Trott will bat at all. It was an unusual start for Pietersen as he struggled to get started and wasnt able to find the gaps. He did survive to drinks where England had cut the deficit off and were 3 ahead. Now its all about building an healthy lead.
After drinks Pietersen still looked as if he was being troubled by the way the seamer's were seaming the balls. They were putting in the surprise bouncer which Pietersen didnt read and he was getting bruised all around. On the other end Bell was playing beautifully as he at the other end as nothing seemed to faze him. He was playing really well and playing fast as he was the aggressor of the partnership and in the 26th over he made an very class 50 off just 72 balls with 10 fours. Bell in confident mood seemed to be hitting the ball all over the pitch England raced to 100 is no time at all. An over later reached an 50 partnership where Kevin Pietersen only contributing 11 to the cause. With out too many more alarms England reached lunch at 130-2 hitting 106 runs in the session with Bell quickly moved on to 82 and Pietersen 20 with England's lead 63.
After lunch England came out with the same intensity they started the day with. Kevin Pitersen looked more assured at the crease as they decided to attack the bowling. The bowling seemed a little tired before lunch and looking to take advantage of the best bating conditions. Bell was starting to slow down as he was edging towards an century so Pietersen decided to try and take some pressure off Bell by taking the attack to India. He was playing the old self where he dominated the bowling. The pitch was flat and easy to bat on. This led Bell to just play his own way taking the 1s and 2s as Pietersen entertained the crowd right after lunch. England wanted to reach small targets they make 150 then the 100 partnership was up then the 100 lead was also made in all quick time. Pietersen was closing in on his 50 and they were playing with such ease that the question was who would make there milestone first. The answer Pietersen as he hit an dab sweep to reach 50 in 98 balls. A few play and misses at the start and not reading the Indian bowling but he battled through it and after lunch he has looked the old self. An couple of overs later Bell made his century as he hit up off his legs from an Kumar bowl and he went to an super century. Except for a couple of play and misses at the start of the innings his innings has been chance-less and he did it in only 129 balls and that being his first at number 3. He also joined an exclusive list of scoring an century against every test playing nation at least once. Only Tedulkar, Dravid, Atapattu and Gary Kirsten have done that before.
Bell relieved and again started playing his natural game and scoring very quickly as Pietersen again became the watcher of the innings. India felling demoralised and the runs was coming super quickly as the score went past 200 and the partnership was now 150 plus as they went to drinks 208-2 with an lead of 141. The lead went quickly above 150 after drinks but Sreesanth who came back into the attack got Pietersen driving at a ball he didnt need to drive at edged the ball and a waste of a wicket for England. England still only 152 ahead knowing they need to score more runs to get the game save. Morgan is the new man in hasnt been impressive in the India series yet but could be the man for this situation. Morgan and Bell were scoring runs freely as England looked to push on the score. India having to turn to there part time bowlers as they are an bowler short and this allowed England to score quick and free runs this mini session before tea. Morgan and Bell able to the ball to all corners of the pitch as the runs were easing off the bat and the score went on to 245-3 and the umpires called for one more over before the break and it turned out to be one of the most controversial overs in test cricket.
The over was going fine and Sreesanth just bowled the last ball before tea. The ball was flicked away and it seemed as if the ball went for an boundary. The cheer from the crowd the body language of Kumar and how the Indian fielders were walking. With that impression Bell and Morgan decided to walk off however the ball had been stopped by Kumar before it reached the boundary the ball was chucked in still unsure of what had happened to most people on and off the field Mukund casually knocked off the bails and very slowly an appeal was made. Only an couple of fielders were appealing so the umpire had to review the decision. England batsman unaware of this were just about to walk off the field were told to wait. Replay showed he had stopped the ball before it got to the ropes. By the letter of the law he had to be given out as the umpire didnt call over or tea. So Bell was run out. To the anger of the fans an very unusual boos came directed at the Indian team. The England captain and coach went into the Indian dressing room and asked if they would reconsider the appeal. The Indian players were already considering bring Bell back the fans unaware of this when the Indian players came out they got the biggest boos that could be possible. Never have I seen an England fans boo in an cricket match but the Indian team during tea decided withdraw there appeal and from boos the PA announcer said what had happened and from boos it was an standing obviation for Dhoni in what he had done in the name of the spirit of cricket. Most ex players said that was the right thing to do Bell was naive to think tea and didnt wait for the decision but Dhoni was right to appeal when he did but was right to take it back in the end.
This clearly affected India after tea though as there focus and discipline just went after tea. The runs were coming at an fast rate. It was now more of an surprise that an boundary wasnt scored each over than it was. They were playing One Day style. They were batting so quickly that got to an 50 by hitting a 6 of just 66 balls. Bell made the most of his reprieve as he went to an super 150. Very few chances in that innings and only that one sticking point of that wicket which they withdrew will shamefully ride over being one of his most delightful innings he has ever scored. The lead was quickly moving onto 250 when Yuvraj got Bell out. He went for an cut which he top edged hit Dhoni's leg and went luckily to Laxman who took an good catch. Despite the problems at tea it was one of the fine performances by him in an England shirt. Big time to get an wicket as it was just before the new ball as Prior was the new man. The new ball was taken straight away and Kumar straight away made the new ball count as they got Morgan as he edged a ball to Dhoni for him to take an easy catch India right back into this game only 262 England feel that may not be enough. This brought out the injured Trott and he should have been given out as Kumar trapped him straight in front. The disappointment didnt last long as he edged another ball from Kumar and went to first slip for Dravid to take an easy catch. India right back in this match only 272 behind with England into there tail but as seen in the first innings able to bat.
This brought out Bresnan with Prior. After surviving an the next few overs from the new ball bowling the 2 English batsman decided to counter attack. That is there natural game. This was going to be an assault like no other as England could sense the bowlers and fielders were tired and really went for there shots. Hitting the ball on the up taking on the short ball and putting away bad balls. The lead grew very quickly. The lead went from 280 to 290 to 300 to 310 as the runs just flew by. Both men were enjoying themselves and the long day seemed to be taking an toil on India. England incredibly were 43 behind at the start of todays play now over 300 and counting. What they were also doing was really pushing for runs so were taking on the throw and going for the extra run because they could sense the team was tired and they kept pushing, The partnership quickly went over 50. The score was went over 400 and Prior went to 50 an over later off 38 balls which included 7 fours and 1 six. With still just under 30 minutes to go they really punished India and they bated so quickly that they made the 100 partnership of just 107 balls. The question was now will Bresnan make 50 before the close. The answer no as he got to 47 NO off just 66 balls while Prior 64 off 55 balls with the partnership 102 so far at the close.
An day where India, at the start felt they could win, have been stolen the game by England. Some aggressive bating has turned an 47 runs deficit to an massive 347 lead. They score 106 in the first session 124 in the second and an massive 187 in the third The papers will all be about the Bell incident but he did set the tone with his aggressive batting and his beautiful 159 which was nearly chance-less. Helped by partnerships with Pietersen and Morgan while Prior and Bresnan gave that late flurry of runs to nearly take India out of the match. The highest chance in the world of cricket is 419 and the highest chance at Nottingham is 286 so any lead of 450 plus should be enough. Also for England time isnt an issue as this game is only going into the 4th day with nearly 3 innings over. India can still come back and win it but it will take an massive effort with taken the final 4 wickets within 50 runs and then bat amazingly well to chase down but time will be on there side as long as the target isnt too much but the shift and the momentum is with England as they now look at victory rather than an draw.
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