India v England - http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 - 3rd Test – Recap – Day 2
India 316 v England 216/1 (73.0 ov) - England trail by 100 runs with 9 wickets remaining in the 1st innings
India faced a bitter and regretful second day of play in the third Test against England, as they were made to field without any reward, with their bowlers getting manhandled by the flamboyant English batsmen, who piled 216 runs for one at stumps, on Thursday, in the match that is being played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
After two days of play, the Indians must be wondering where things went wrong for them after openers http://www.senore.com/Cricket/V-Sehwag-c2739 gave them a commendable opening stand of 47 runs.
Sehwag’s run out mistake changed the whole face of the match, as England’s pace attack then never allowed anyone to stay on the wicket long enough to pose a serious threat except for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SR-Tendulkar-c2556, who played an under pressure knock of 76 runs. However, this was not good enough as the batsmen kept losing their wickets at the end, leaving the master blaster without any room to actually punish the bowlers.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/JM-Anderson-c1705 was just too good for the hosts on the opening day, as he generated pace and swing from the pitch, which kept the batsmen wondering.
It was obvious that the Indians were unable to counter Anderson’s bowling, who went on to dismiss Kohli and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Chinnadupargea-Sachin-c50607.
With India’s main batting line-up back in the pavilion, skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MS-Dhoni-c2028 was left with the tail-enders to prolong India’s miseries by staying not-out.
However, finishing off the day with 273 for seven, left India battered and at the mercy of the English.
It was obviously a tough ask for India’s remaining fragile batting to avert a disappointing end to the first innings.
Nonetheless, Dhoni on Thursday, proved just why he is still a better captain for India, as he smacked an inspirational knock of 52 runs to post 316 on the board.
While Anderson finished off with three wickets, spinner MS Panesar closed the first innings after completing a four-wicket haul.
It was a tricky situation for England, as they knew that the Indian pacers would try to get early wickets, but they could not afford to relax against the spinners either.
Nevertheless, the English openers http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AN-Cook-c1026 and NRD Compton left their opponents flabbergasted by moulding an opening stand of 165 before Compton became the only casualty of the day for England when he was removed by Ojha after hammering 57 runs.
With Cook dominating the bowlers, England sent in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/IJL-Trott-c1576, who stayed unbeaten on 21 alongside his skipper, who stood tall with a handsome knock of 136, as England ended the day with 216 runs on the board.
Tags: