Dhoni, Harbhajan help India to 241-9 at lunch

Chennai, Dec 13 (PTI) An invaluable 75-run stand between
Indain captain M S Dhoni (53) and Harbhajan Singh (40) helped
India reduce the deficit within manageable limit as India were
241 for nine in their first innings at lunch on the third day
of their first Test against England here Saturday.

At the break, Amit Mishra (12) and Ishant Sharma (8) were
at the crease, having added 22 precious runs so far as India
were 75 runs behind England's first innings score of 316.

Dhoni, who scored his 14th career half-century, and
Harbhajan took upon the battle gamely piling up runs with ease
for the seventh wicket but England fought back well in the
second hour taking three quick wickets in the space of five
overs.

Monty Panesar was the most impressive amongst the English
bowlers, as England captain Kevin Pietersen pinned his hopes
on the left-arm spinner persisting with him from both the ends
while shuffling the other bowlers for almost every two overs.

Panesar, who opened the attack from the Pavilion end with
a maiden over, scalped both Harbhajan and Dhoni as the
visitors got back their hold on the match. Panesar's wicket
taking second spell read an impressive 6-1-17-2.

Resuming at the overnight score of 155 for six in reply
to England's 316, Dhoni's initiative to take more of the
strike kept up the momentum from where they left last evening.

Dhoni picked the rising ball to come up with a delectable
punch between point and gully to reach the ropes. The Indian
captain never showed any urgency in shot selection and playing
with cool head hooked Flintoff to mid wicket for another four.

With Harbhajan also looking for some quick runs, the
Indian score board started moving at a brisk pace. Harbhajan
reverse swept Panesar to the ropes to hoist the 50 stand in 63
minutes off 103 balls between them.

Close to the end of first hour, Pietersen shuffled his
bowlers and also brought on Panesar from the Road end. In the
first hour of play the Indian pair had scored 47 runs in 13
overs.

India was also able to cross the 200 mark when Harbhajan
confidently drove Stephen Harmison to point boundary. In fact,
Harbhajan scored nine runs in that over and that forced
Pietersen to remove Harmison and brought back Graeme Swann.

In the first over after drinks, Dhoni pulled Panesar to
mid wicket and started limping on his third run and had
medical attention.

As the batsmen were coasting towards building up a solid
partnership, Harbhajan fell to Panesar being caught at forward
short leg by Ian Bell, who earlier could not give his hand to
a difficult chance when Dhoni played uppishly off Panesar.

Harbhajan's 40 from 58 balls in 87 minutes contained
seven fours and it was his second best individual score
(earlier-52-Nottingham 2002) against England.

Meanwhile, Zaheer Khan did not stay long and made his
exit being adjudged leg before to Flintoff.

Dhoni, who continued to suffer from cramp on his right
leg, made his exit soon after making his fourth 50 plus runs
against England when he went for a slog off Panesar, holding
out to Pietersen at long off in the 65th over.

Then Amit Mishra thrived on gamely, hitting two
boundaries – one each of Panesar and Flintoff, as he helped
the team cause to narrow down the deficit. PTI VS
NIK