The Hindu : Sport : India plays out a few nervy moments; wraps up Test

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 01, 2007
ePaper

Sport

Sport

India plays out a few nervy moments; wraps up Test

S. Ram Mahesh

Zaheer Khan, deservedly, picks up the Man of the Match award for his match haul of nine wickets

Caption: Michael Vaughan, left, shakes hands with Rahul Dravid after India beat England in the second Test match in Nottingham. Photo: AP

Nottingham: It’s said every Test match gets the end it deserves, its last moment emblematic of what has gone before it. On Tuesday at Trent Bridge, even as the afternoon bottles of Pimms and lemonade were being poured into thirsty glasses, the second Test found its resting ground.

There was drama; how could there not be when the preceding four days were tense, feisty, razor-edge affairs? And, there was a twist.

The 6ft 7 in Chris Tremlett — looking finally like Atlas, the Heavens off his shoulders — set Sourav Ganguly up for the short ball, and released a yorker. The left-hander’s legs slid out of the way; the ball went through untouched.

Four byes — a famous victory for India.

Rahul Dravid’s men — having broken gaol at Lord’s — can’t lose the series. They lead 1-0, with the third and final Test at the Oval from August 9.

The irony was unmistakeable: England had been out-thought, out-played, and out-fought in English conditions by a side with a reputation for travelling as well as un-refrigerated tomatoes.

The reputation has lingered unfairly. It’s no longer true. Since January 2000, only Australia has won more Tests overseas. India has triumphed in Tests played everywhere save New Zealand, and all these wins have been brought about by bold, wholesome cricket.

There were a few nervy moments on Tuesday morning as an old failing played up. Tremlett raised hellish bounce: Wasim Jaffer top-edged a pull off a delivery that seamed away as it hurried on; Dinesh Karthik gloved one that got nasty on him; Sachin Tendulkar was stitched up at leg-gully, positioned close enough to pick his pockets by the shrewd Michael Vaughan. But, the openers had put on 47 — Karthik cutting, Jaffer clipping — and the target of 73 was always within reach.

Dravid bobbed and weaved as James Anderson cottoned on to Tremlett’s endeavours. He, too, banged it in short, looking to open wounds that would stay fresh for the Oval, but India did it in leg-byes, a flash over the slips, a push for two, and the motormouth-Prior-defeating byes.

“It was a fantastic all-round performance,” said Dravid. “For the openers to put on 147 in the first innings was a brilliant effort. It set up the middle order.

“Zaheer (Khan) showed what a leading bowler must do. Whenever we asked questions of him, he stood up and got it done. When the game was in the balance yesterday (Monday), he grabbed it by the scruff and did what match-winners do. R.P. Singh might not get the credit he deserves, but he got critical wickets this Test.”

To no one’s surprise, Zaheer’s nine-wicket match haul won him the Man of the Match award.

He was instrumental in reducing England to 198 in the first innings before swinging the game India’s way on Monday, dismissing Vaughan, who had threatened to sneak England a chance, never mind a jelly bean.

Deja vu

“At the back of my mind was the chase against Australia here,” said Vaughan (England had squeaked home by three wickets chasing 129).

“It’s not easy batting fourth at Trent Bridge, and I knew we had to get a big lead,” added the England captain, whose second innings 124 was a classic.

“If Colly (Collingwood) and I had survived those eight-ten overs (with the second new ball), I felt we could have given India a hard chase of about 150-160.”

But, Zaheer bowled Vaughan behind his legs off the thigh pad — deserved fortune, for the left-armer held the upper hand in their battle — and followed it up by having Collingwood caught in the slips.

The English tail exhibited unbecoming haste — the last four wickets took less than eight overs to shift. One partnership was all India needed for a hard-scrapped win.

Celebration

The Indian team celebrated on the balcony, exulting under the hanging pots of roseate and holly.

But, the side will do well to remember that it has rarely followed up well. Adelaide, Multan, the Wanderers: all preceded defeats.

“Thank you for reminding me,” said Dravid.

“The boys know we have to play some good cricket. The expectations have increased; they don’t expect us just to show up and be part of the summer. We’ll celebrate the win, but keep our minds focussed on the Test at the Oval.”

scoreboard

England — 1st innings: 198.

India — 1st innings: 481.

England — 2nd innings: A. Strauss c Dhoni b Zaheer 55, A. Cook lbw b Zaheer 23,M. Vaughan b Zaheer 124, K. Pietersen lbw b Singh 19, Collingwood c Karthik b Zaheer 63, I. Bell lbw b Zaheer 0, M. Prior b Singh 7, C. Tremlett c Singh b Kumble 5, R. Sidebottom (not out) 25, M. Panesar c Karthik b Kumble 4, J. Anderson b Kumble 1, Extras (b-7, lb-6, w-9, nb-7) 29; Total (in 104 overs) 355.

Fall of wickets: 1-49 (Cook), 2-130 (Strauss), 3-175 (Pietersen), 4-287 (Vaughan), 5-287 (Bell), 6-304 (Prior), 7-323 (Collingwood), 8-329 (Tremlett), 9-333 (Panesar).

India bowling: Zaheer 27-10-75-5, Sreesanth 21-2-60-0, Singh 18-6-52-2, Kumble 25-2-104-3, Ganguly 6-0-22-0, Tendulkar 7-0-29-0.

India — 2nd innings: D. Karthik c Prior b Tremlett 22, W. Jaffer c Pietersen b Tremlett 22, R. Dravid (not out) 11, S. Tendulkar c Cook b Tremlett 1, S. Ganguly (not out) 2; Extras: (b-4, lb-6, w-2, nb-3) 15. Total: (for three wkts. in 24.1 overs) 73.

Fall of wickets: 1-47 (Jaffer), 2-55 (Karthik), 3-62 (Tendulkar).

England bowling: Anderson 9-2-23-0, Sidebottom 8-0-28-0, Tremlett 7.1-2-12-3.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail