India vs England ? 1st Test ? Live Cricket Score and Match Update
It took the agony of a follow-on for England to finally show some intent against the Indian spinners as Alastair Cook and Nick Compton boldly overcame the first innings? woes to end the third day?s play at Ahmedadad on 111 for 0.
The day still belonged to the home side, which after posting a mammoth 521 on the board, routed England on 191 in 74.2 overs. Ravichandran Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha bowled splendidly well and their combination had a similar impact that Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman had earlier in the year.
However, with the English openers finishing the day strongly, it certainly will lift the morale in the dressing room, which just a couple of hours earlier would have been at an all time low.
Yes, the pitch was responsive to spin but England hardly showed conviction in their batting. Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell looked content on attacking the spinners but lacked the discipline and more importantly, execution. After surviving plenty of close calls ? an edge, a stumping and an lbw decision ? it was ironic that KP?s demise came courtesy a left-arm spinner.
Ojha got the ball to turn slightly and with Pietersen hopping around the crease more than his liking, failed to implement a simple defensive shot and found his middle-stump uprooted. Bell?s dismissal was even harder to absorb after he tried to loft the first ball out of the park, but managed to find the mid-off fielder.
Cook was tight in his defensive display and looked in control of innings until he edged a turning Ashwin delivery to Virender Sehwag at slip. Samit Patel was fortunate to escape a close lbw shout but at the same time, was unlucky after being adjudged lbw off Umesh Yadav as the ball slid past the leg stump.
England lost 4 in the opening session but as often has been the case, the late order clicked with Matt Prior (48) leading the way. His was the final wicket to fall, but not before he added 94 with the help of Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann, further remaining the top scorer for his side.
With India ahead by a fair margin, it was hardly a surprise when Mahendra Singh Dhoni asked the opposition to have a bat again. However, this time it was the English skipper?s turn to return the favour with a controlled half-century. The left-hander ended on an unbeaten 74, which included 13 boundaries. ?
Nick Compton also played his part with a cautious 34, as England finally dominated a much-needed session in the game. With backs against the wall, the tourists indeed have restored some pride. While the task may still be an uphill one, they certainly have shown enough to suggest that the upcoming three Tests will be no walk over.?
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