Thanks to Dhoni, after a long time. Only Dhoni had the guts to take the English bowling attack - only Dhoni. Rest all were mere spectators including the master blaster-Sachin Tendulkar and Mr.Perfect-Rahul Dravid. English bowlers lumped the Indian batsmen but Dhoni held the fight to bring India to a decent score of 224. When the English fast bowlers especially Stuart Broad and TIm Bresnan shared most of the wickets India were 111 for 7 at one time. It was Dhoni's and Praveen Kumars heart to counter attack the England bowlers made all the difference.
Sehwag-thought of as the savior even didn't get enough time to be on the ground. He was dismissed by last two tests hero-Broad in the very first ball of his spell and what Sehwag faced first after return from his injury. India would have smell the danger even in that instant itself. But Gambhir (38) and Dravid stood somehow till lunch. Dravid who got back his favourite number 3 position once again came to the crease with situations similar to an opener prevailing and he did well to manage that. But he could resist the attack only till last ball of the first session.
Then came Sachin Tendulkar- Master Blaster with some great loud of applause from the crowd that have followed him throughout this series. As soon as he came England skipper Andrew Strauss immediately recalled his senior most strike bowler James Anderson to target someone he has removed 7 times. And Anderson could have made it to 8 but this time luck didn't hold his side. Then Stuart Broad got the chance to get the outside edge of Sachin - it was for the third time in this series that Broad is dismissing the Master Blaster. Then the rest was all an easy task for the England pace attack. Raina as usual fell before the short pitch delivery, Laxman who lazily flicked to long leg and Mishra edged a drive. But what happened rest was quite unnatural. Dhoni (77) who needed 16 deliveries to open his account and Praveen Kumar (28) counter attacked England bowlers with some crunching drives and haphazard drives. This partnership helped India a lot to reach 224.
In reply Indian bowlers didn't get anything from the pitch what England seamers have obtained and at stumps England is at 84/0; a perfect start fro the England team in the third test.
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| And atlast.... |
Sehwag-thought of as the savior even didn't get enough time to be on the ground. He was dismissed by last two tests hero-Broad in the very first ball of his spell and what Sehwag faced first after return from his injury. India would have smell the danger even in that instant itself. But Gambhir (38) and Dravid stood somehow till lunch. Dravid who got back his favourite number 3 position once again came to the crease with situations similar to an opener prevailing and he did well to manage that. But he could resist the attack only till last ball of the first session.
Then came Sachin Tendulkar- Master Blaster with some great loud of applause from the crowd that have followed him throughout this series. As soon as he came England skipper Andrew Strauss immediately recalled his senior most strike bowler James Anderson to target someone he has removed 7 times. And Anderson could have made it to 8 but this time luck didn't hold his side. Then Stuart Broad got the chance to get the outside edge of Sachin - it was for the third time in this series that Broad is dismissing the Master Blaster. Then the rest was all an easy task for the England pace attack. Raina as usual fell before the short pitch delivery, Laxman who lazily flicked to long leg and Mishra edged a drive. But what happened rest was quite unnatural. Dhoni (77) who needed 16 deliveries to open his account and Praveen Kumar (28) counter attacked England bowlers with some crunching drives and haphazard drives. This partnership helped India a lot to reach 224.
In reply Indian bowlers didn't get anything from the pitch what England seamers have obtained and at stumps England is at 84/0; a perfect start fro the England team in the third test.
