ID :
35823
Tue, 12/16/2008 - 12:51
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http://m.oananews.org//node/35823
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India script an improbable win against England
R Eswar
Chennai, Dec 15 (PTI) India scripted an improbable win in the shadow of the Mumbai terror attacks when a gritty Mumbaikar, Sachin Tendulkar, led the way to humble England by six wickets in the first cricket Test here Monday.
Shortly after 4 pm, Tendulkar, called a magician by rival
skipper Kevin Pietersen, glanced the ball to the fine leg
boundary to achieve a truly momentous win on the final day for
his team and his 41st Test century, an unbeaten 103.
India won in the highest successful fourth innings chase
in the sub-continent by making 387 for four, a target the
England team, which resumed its India tour after returning
home in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks, thought was
unachievable.
Building on a course-changing 83 off 68 balls by Virender
Sehwag yesterday, Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh (85 not out)
joined hands in an unbeaten 163-run partnership for the fifth
wicket to give their team a win that will rank among the very
best since India began playing Test cricket 75 years ago.
Rarely, if ever, has cricket been played under the
watchful eyes of so many machine-gun wielding security
personnel, but the doughty Indians and sporty Englishmen did
not let that weigh on their minds in playing a great Test
match that will boost the nation's morale and bring cheer to a
rattled cricket world.
Quite fittingly, Tendulkar hit a boundary to not only
notch up his century but also bring about the winning runs,
triggering off wild scenes of celebrations in the galleries.
This was the biggest fourth innings run chase in the
sub-continent, eclipsing Sri Lanka's 352 for nine against
South Africa in Colombo.
The seizable crowd at the Chepauk had plenty to cheer
about as the Indians went about chasing down the fourth
highest target in the fourth innings in Test history.
While West Indies have the record of the highest run
chase of 418/7 against Australia at St. Johns in 2003, India
is second in the list for successfully chasing 406 against the
West Indies at Port of Spain in 1976.
The only other team to have scored more than 400 runs in
the fourth innings is Australia who scored 404/3 against
England at Leeds in 1948.
It was the highest ever fourth innings target achieved at
any venue in the country, 276 by the West Indies at Delhi in
1987-88 was the previous best.
India's best effort in winning a test match at home when
batting last was 256-8 against Australia at Mumbai in the
1964-65 series, but it did make 347 to tie the 1986 Test
against Australia in Chennai.
The two teams will now travel to Mohali for the second
Test beginning on December 19.
Resuming at the overnight score of 131 for one, India
suffered an early setback when Rahul Dravid (4) got out
cheaply yet again. Dravid was out edging Andrew Flintoff to
wicketkeeper Matt Prior in third over of the day.
But Gambhir and Tendulkar took upon the challenge and at
one stage maintained a run rate of around five runs per over,
attacking the England bowlers. The duo added 42 runs for the
third wicket.
Gambhir and Tendulkar never looked under any pressure and
took singles and twos without much problem, besides sending
the odd bad balls to the ropes.
Tendulkar, in particular, was enjoying his batting as he
punished the bowlers whenever they gave width to him for
playing shots.
Tendulkar survived a half chance soon after India crossed
the 150 mark. With Graeme Swann hitting the right areas, the
little master stretched to defend but the ball took a sharp
turn and hit the outer edge of the bat to fall inches in front
of Ian Bell at silly point. Tendulkar was on ten then.
Gambhir was shaping well as he added 24 runs with Dravid
and 42 with Tendulkar but one lapse of concentration saw him
back in the pavillion.
After bowling two short-pitched deliveries in previous
over, James Anderson kept up the pressure on Gambhir attacking
on the off side corridor, and the Indian opener paid the price
for a lapse in concentration.
Gambhir moved across and his half hearted steer end up
to Paul Collingwood who moved to his left at slips and took a
good catch at gully.
Though there was a slight drop in run flow at the fall
of Gambhir, Laxman adapted to the conditions quickly and was
in no mood to take any risk against Monty Panesar, who
maintained a tight length.
England captain Kevin Pietersen withdrew his bowlers
whenever they gave away runs denying the Indians to settle
down. But Laxman, in particular, was focused and used his feet
for well-timed drives.
With both Tendulkar and Yuvraj holding the aces against
the English bowlers, India were in sight of a historic win.
Tendulkar who struck his 52nd fifty and crossed 1000-run
mark this year, played the anchor role using his experience to
gather runs mostly through singles and twos.
England heaved a sigh of relief when Graeme Swann scalped
Laxman (42 balls, 4X4) who was out to a bat pad catch by Ian
Bell.
Yuvraj, after reading the pitch for a while, continued
with India's plan of counter-attack and Tendulkar played a
good foil keeping one end intact.
For a while, Monty Panesar and Swann kept up the pressure
and momentarily arrested the flow of runs. But once Tendulkar
and Yuvraj brought about their 50 stand with Yuvraj sweeping
Panesar to the fence, the duo started to cut loose. PTI RE
SAK
Chennai, Dec 15 (PTI) India scripted an improbable win in the shadow of the Mumbai terror attacks when a gritty Mumbaikar, Sachin Tendulkar, led the way to humble England by six wickets in the first cricket Test here Monday.
Shortly after 4 pm, Tendulkar, called a magician by rival
skipper Kevin Pietersen, glanced the ball to the fine leg
boundary to achieve a truly momentous win on the final day for
his team and his 41st Test century, an unbeaten 103.
India won in the highest successful fourth innings chase
in the sub-continent by making 387 for four, a target the
England team, which resumed its India tour after returning
home in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks, thought was
unachievable.
Building on a course-changing 83 off 68 balls by Virender
Sehwag yesterday, Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh (85 not out)
joined hands in an unbeaten 163-run partnership for the fifth
wicket to give their team a win that will rank among the very
best since India began playing Test cricket 75 years ago.
Rarely, if ever, has cricket been played under the
watchful eyes of so many machine-gun wielding security
personnel, but the doughty Indians and sporty Englishmen did
not let that weigh on their minds in playing a great Test
match that will boost the nation's morale and bring cheer to a
rattled cricket world.
Quite fittingly, Tendulkar hit a boundary to not only
notch up his century but also bring about the winning runs,
triggering off wild scenes of celebrations in the galleries.
This was the biggest fourth innings run chase in the
sub-continent, eclipsing Sri Lanka's 352 for nine against
South Africa in Colombo.
The seizable crowd at the Chepauk had plenty to cheer
about as the Indians went about chasing down the fourth
highest target in the fourth innings in Test history.
While West Indies have the record of the highest run
chase of 418/7 against Australia at St. Johns in 2003, India
is second in the list for successfully chasing 406 against the
West Indies at Port of Spain in 1976.
The only other team to have scored more than 400 runs in
the fourth innings is Australia who scored 404/3 against
England at Leeds in 1948.
It was the highest ever fourth innings target achieved at
any venue in the country, 276 by the West Indies at Delhi in
1987-88 was the previous best.
India's best effort in winning a test match at home when
batting last was 256-8 against Australia at Mumbai in the
1964-65 series, but it did make 347 to tie the 1986 Test
against Australia in Chennai.
The two teams will now travel to Mohali for the second
Test beginning on December 19.
Resuming at the overnight score of 131 for one, India
suffered an early setback when Rahul Dravid (4) got out
cheaply yet again. Dravid was out edging Andrew Flintoff to
wicketkeeper Matt Prior in third over of the day.
But Gambhir and Tendulkar took upon the challenge and at
one stage maintained a run rate of around five runs per over,
attacking the England bowlers. The duo added 42 runs for the
third wicket.
Gambhir and Tendulkar never looked under any pressure and
took singles and twos without much problem, besides sending
the odd bad balls to the ropes.
Tendulkar, in particular, was enjoying his batting as he
punished the bowlers whenever they gave width to him for
playing shots.
Tendulkar survived a half chance soon after India crossed
the 150 mark. With Graeme Swann hitting the right areas, the
little master stretched to defend but the ball took a sharp
turn and hit the outer edge of the bat to fall inches in front
of Ian Bell at silly point. Tendulkar was on ten then.
Gambhir was shaping well as he added 24 runs with Dravid
and 42 with Tendulkar but one lapse of concentration saw him
back in the pavillion.
After bowling two short-pitched deliveries in previous
over, James Anderson kept up the pressure on Gambhir attacking
on the off side corridor, and the Indian opener paid the price
for a lapse in concentration.
Gambhir moved across and his half hearted steer end up
to Paul Collingwood who moved to his left at slips and took a
good catch at gully.
Though there was a slight drop in run flow at the fall
of Gambhir, Laxman adapted to the conditions quickly and was
in no mood to take any risk against Monty Panesar, who
maintained a tight length.
England captain Kevin Pietersen withdrew his bowlers
whenever they gave away runs denying the Indians to settle
down. But Laxman, in particular, was focused and used his feet
for well-timed drives.
With both Tendulkar and Yuvraj holding the aces against
the English bowlers, India were in sight of a historic win.
Tendulkar who struck his 52nd fifty and crossed 1000-run
mark this year, played the anchor role using his experience to
gather runs mostly through singles and twos.
England heaved a sigh of relief when Graeme Swann scalped
Laxman (42 balls, 4X4) who was out to a bat pad catch by Ian
Bell.
Yuvraj, after reading the pitch for a while, continued
with India's plan of counter-attack and Tendulkar played a
good foil keeping one end intact.
For a while, Monty Panesar and Swann kept up the pressure
and momentarily arrested the flow of runs. But once Tendulkar
and Yuvraj brought about their 50 stand with Yuvraj sweeping
Panesar to the fence, the duo started to cut loose. PTI RE
SAK
