Rahul Dravid led India’s revival against England in the second Test at Trent Bridge in Nottingham yesterday.
India were 117 for two in reply to England’s first innings 221, a deficit of 104 runs, at lunch on the second day as they looked to level the four-match series at 1-1.
Dravid was 44 not out and Sachin Tendulkar, bidding to become the first batsman to score 100 international centuries, 14 not out.
Photo: AFP
Earlier Dravid and Venkatsai Laxman (54) kept England at bay with a second-wicket stand of 93 after coming together at zero for one after India lost opener Abhinav Mukund to the first ball of their reply on Friday.
India resumed with Dravid, second behind Tendulkar in the all-time list of Test run-makers, seven not out and Laxman 13 not out.
The experienced duo took the attack to England’s seamers with four boundaries in as many balls.
Laxman cover-drove James Anderson to the rope and Dravid, who scored a first innings century during England’s 196-run first Test win at Lord’s, clipped Stuart Broad legside.
Then Laxman, in a superb piece of timing, guided Broad behind point for four with no more than a defensive push.
England were convinced they had Laxman, on 27, caught behind off Anderson and asked for a referral after Asad Rauf rejected their raucous appeals.
However, the replay technology in use this series detected no edge and the Pakistani umpire’s decision was upheld.
England captain Andrew Strauss was unable to bowl Graeme Swann as the off-spinner was off the field with a hand injury suffered when batting on Friday.
Meanwhile, Laxman completed a 104-ball half-ton when he cover-drove Tim Bresnan, in for the injured Chris Tremlett, for the 10th boundary of his innings.
However, Laxman was undone soon afterward by a lifting Bresnan delivery he could only fend to wicketkeeper Matt Prior to leave India 93 for two.
His exit brought in Tendulkar, who walked out to a standing ovation from all around the ground.
Tendulkar, dismissed for 34 and 12 when hampered by a viral infection during the Test at Lord’s, got off the mark with a superb back-foot cover-driven four against occasional medium-pacer Jonathan Trott.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and