India remain firmly in charge

As the Third Test moves into the fifth and final day of the series, India still remain firmly on top, following a day where they refused to enforce the follow on, but set England an unimaginable 500 run chase to level the series.

Monty Panesar and Chris Tremlett begun the day hoping to narrow the already extensive deficit, and managed to hang around for some 7 overs, before Kumble caught Panesar in front of his stumps, despite a rather large stride down the track.

The gap was 319 runs, and Rahul Dravid decided to put the game beyong doubt and bat for a second time, eliminating any danger of England exerting some pressure on the Indians.

The hosts then demonstrated the kind of opening assault that had been missing in the first innings. Due to Ryan Sidebottom's side strain, Chris Tremlett and Jimmy Anderson took the new ball, and to good effect. While Anderson swung the ball at good pace, Tremlett extracted good bounce, and a potentially potent opening combination was unearthed.

Anderson removed Jaffer with a ball that looked odds on to go over the top of the stumps, as he shouldered arms to a ball that thudded into his pads. Umpire Ian Howell took his time, before raising his finger to send the unfortunate Jaffer back to the changing rooms.

Dinesh Karthik was to follow soon after to Tremlett, who induced an outside edge from the opener, with Collingwood taking a smart catch in second slip.

Sachin Tendulkar made his way to the crease, in what is expected to be his last Test outing in England, to appreciative applause, and 11 balls later was making his way back.

Anderson, again, forcing the error, when Tendulkar inside edged onto his stumps leaving only one stump remaing. Anderson had 2 for 0 off his first four overs, and while it is inappropriate to suggest India were on the ropes, they were not enjoying the best of times at 11-3.

Sorav Ganguly joined his skipper in the middle, and a 65 run partnership ensued, with Ganguly the man who accumulated the majority with his typical excellent timing and placement.

The handy swing bowling of Collingwood accounted for Ganguly when he had reached 57, meanwhile Dravid was doing no more than holding his end up. When Ganguly was dismissed Dravid was on 5 off 77 balls.

Collingwood's underrated swing made for Dravid also, when he felt at a ball outside off, and snicked the ball to the solitary slip in Strauss, who took a comfortable catch.

Dhoni and Laxman both had hands in ensuring the lead was up to 500 before the declaration arrived, leaving England the unenviable task of chasing the total down in a maximum 110 overs.
The openers, Strauss and Cook, saw out the remainder of the day, which involved a testing 20 overs, in mediocre light. Cook had registered 27, and Strauss 23 respectively.

So as we enter the final day, England still require a highly unlikely 444 runs, and India 10 wickets. With this drying and wearing pitch, Anil Kumble is the one that may cause most problems for England in their quest to break numerous records and level the series.

India 664 Anil Kumble 110*, MS Dhoni 92, Dinesh Karthik 91, Sachin Tendulkar 82 James Anderson 4/182, Monty Panesar 2/159

England 345 Ian Bell 63, Paul Collingwood 62, Alistair Cook 61 Zaheer Khan 3-32, Anil Kumble 3-94, Sreesanth 2-80

India 180-6 dec Sourav Ganguly 57, VVS Laxman 46*, MS Dhoni 36 Paul Collingwood 2-24, James Anderson 2-34, Chris Tremlett 2-58

England 56-0 Alastair Cook 27*, Andrew Strauss 23*

England require another 444 runs with 10 wickets remaining

(Cricket Web, 12/08/2007)
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