England captured the prize wicket of Rahul “The Wall” Dravid to make India’s task of achieving a record-breaking run chase in the second Test at Trent Bridge all the more difficult yesterday.
India were 8-1 at lunch on the fourth day, needing a further 470 runs to reach their victory target of 478 after bowling England out for 544, an innings that featured a 90 by England No. 8 Tim Bresnan.
No side has scored more runs to win in the fourth innings of a Test than the 418-7 made by the West Indies against Australia at St John’s, Antigua, in 2002-2003.
Photo: Reuters
India’s chase was almost made even harder when, to the first ball of their reply, left-hander Mukund edged James Anderson outside off-stump, only for second slip Bresnan, moving in front of England captain Andrew Strauss at first slip, to drop the chance.
However, England saw the back of star batsman Dravid, who made 117 in India’s first innings, for just 6 when he edged a lifting delivery from Stuart Broad to wicketkeeper Matt Prior.
Mukund was 2 not out at lunch, with Venkatsai Laxman yet to score.
England resumed yesterday on 441 for six. Prior, again frustrating India, was 64 not out with Bresnan, recalled in place of injured fast bowler Chris Tremlett, 47 not out.
Yesterday’s first over saw Bresnan complete his second Test half-century, before driving fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth for four.
Prior’s entertaining innings of 73, and a seventh-wicket stand of 119 at nearly a run-a-ball, ended when he was caught behind by opposing wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni off Praveen Kumar, who led the attack with four for 124.
The England gloveman faced just 60 balls, hitting a six and 10 fours.
Broad, who had top-scored with 64 in England’s first innings 221 and had then taken a hat-trick on his way to Test-best figures of six for 46 in India’s 288, then ensured the runs kept coming on his home ground.
He struck two sixes in successive balls off part-time spinner Suresh Raina.
Broad made 44 before he was run out by substitute Wriddihiman Saha and the next ball Bresnan, for the second time, fell within sight of a maiden Test century when he fended at a lifting delivery from Kumar and saw the ball loop to Dravid in the gully.
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