England v http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750: 2nd Test Match – In-depth Analysis Part 3
India gained a 67-run first innings lead against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 on the second day’s play of the second Test match at the Trent Bridge, Nottingham in England on Saturday, July 30, 2011.
Although this would have pleased the visitors, they could have easily gained a massive lead with the position they were in at one stage of their innings. The team was 267/4, but lost their last six batsmen for just 21 runs on the board.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SCJ-Broad-c2465 proved to be the difference between both teams, as he dominated the first two days with both bat and ball. The promising all-rounder scored a crucial half-century in the team’s first innings and came back with the ball to take six Indian wickets including a hat-trick.
England had gained a very good momentum and would have been looking forward to a solid performance in their second outing. There was still some assistance for the bowlers in the pitch, but batting had become easier compared to the first day’s play.
There was plenty of time left in the play and with no chances of rain, the match was likely to end in a result.
The hosts’ failed to make an impression in their first outing, but were too good to miss out for a second time in a row. The team piled up a massive 544 runs in their second innings, gaining an overall lead of 477 runs.
The first priority for England would have been to get rid of the opposition’s first innings lead. However, the team lost two wickets within the lead, which gave a slight upper hand to the number one Test team in the world.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AJ-Strauss-c964, who collected 16 runs.
England were 57/2 at that stage of the innings and looked in a spot of bother, but http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KP-Pietersen-c1806 took the game away from the opposition. The pair put together 162 runs for the third wicket partnership, guiding the team’s total above 200.
The solid stand finally came to an end with the dismissal of Pietersen, who collected 63 runs with the help of seven boundaries in his impressive knock.
Another century partnership between Bell and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Eoin-Joseph-Gerard-Morgan-c56032 sunk the Indian team deeper in trouble. Both batsmen played aggressively, collecting 104 runs for the fifth wicket partnership.
Bell got out after a sensational knock of 159 runs off 206 balls. He struck 24 boundaries in his classy outing.
Just six runs later, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Morgan-c77707 was also sent back to the pavilion. The flamboyant left-handed player needed some runs badly and got them when the team required it most. He ended up with 70 runs with the help of eight fours and one massive six.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/IJL-Trott-c1576, who had to bat at number seven due to missing the field for most part of the Indian innings, was unable to get going. He got out after managing just a couple of runs, leaving the Poms 339/6.
India seemed to have bounced back in the match, but a 119-run stand between http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TT-Bresnan-c2711 shifted the momentum back with the hosts. They scored 73 and 90 in their respective outings.
Broad also played a useful cameo, collecting 44 runs towards the end of the innings. The English team was all out for 544 with an overall lead of 477 runs in the match.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/P-Kumar-c2143 bowled well with the new ball, picking up four wickets in the innings.
Tags: