The 2000th Test - England v http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 – 1st npower Test – 4th Day’s Summary
By the end of an eventful 4th day of the 1st nPower Test match, England were in a strong position as they needed nine more wickets to win the 2000th Test match in cricket history, being played at the Lord’s Cricket ground,
London on July 24, 2011.
The close of play saw Indian veteran pairing of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/R-Dravid-c2229 and VVS Laxman occupying the crease, while their side was still 378 runs behind of the target set by the hosts.
However, the day belonged to the English duo of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SCJ-Broad-c2465, who shared a seventh-wicket stand of 162 to guide their side out of trouble and into the driving seat.
At one time the hosts looked in trouble, courtesy a devastating opening spell by Indian pacer, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/I-Sharma-c1566. However, Prior and Broad stepped up and killed the visitors’ hope of revival with some good attacking batting.
The day began with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 resuming from their overnight score of 5 for no loss, having a healthy lead of 193, from the first innings.
There was still no http://www.senore.com/Cricket/P-Kumar-c2143 and Sharma opened for the Men in Blue.
They started well, with Kumar removing an uncharacteristic looking http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MS-Dhoni-c2028.
The England batters looked circumspect, which handed the momentum in favor of the Indian bolwers.
The next to leave the field was skipper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Harbhajan-Singh-c61453 got his first scalp of the match.
The left-hander was looking comfortable on 32; however, he surrendered yet another promising start with a bad shot selection.
Then onwards, it was all about Ishant Sharma, who bowled the innings’ best spell. He first removed the double century maker, Kevin Peterson for one.
Peterson, who got the best of the Indian pacer in the first innings, walking down the crease, was victimized by a scorcher of a delivery, surprising him with the bounce, nipping his glove and eventually was pouched by Dhoni.
In the same over, Ishant removed http://www.senore.com/Cricket/IR-Bell-c1597 on a duck. Bell edged a delivery that moved just a shade off the seam, giving Dhoni another easy, third catch.
The best was left for the last as Ishant roared in and cleaned up http://www.senore.com/Cricket/IJL-Trott-c1576. The ball was quick and full, which went through the defenses, shattering the off stump.
After lunch, Ishant grabbed another wicket, that of the left-hander, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Eoin-Joseph-Gerard-Morgan-c56032, for 19. England had been reduced to 107 for 6, with the Indians looking for the kill.
Just as it seemed that the visitors would bundle out the hosts, along came Prior with an unbeaten century. He attacked the Indian bolwers, who by now looked jaded.
Broad also provided able support in the high pressure situation, scoring a confident half century.
England declared as soon as Prior reached a impressive century, hitting http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SK-Raina-c2539 for a stylish off-side boundary to reach 103. On the other end, Broad remained unbeaten on 74, with the help of nine boundaries.
The Indians started with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/G-Gambhir-c1447 was undergoing medical treatment for his elbow injury.
Both batters weathered the new opening bowlers. However, Broad took the first wicket by cleaning up Mukund for 12.
It was then left to Dravid and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SR-Tendulkar-c2556 fell ill, to carry the bat till the close of play, which saw Dravid batting on 34 and Laxman on 32.
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