Resuming 2nd innings on day 4, England post a mammoth total which India could have easily avoided. However, the credit should go to the English players Matt Prior and Stuart Board who held their nerves, struck some gorgeous cricketing shots to post a target of 458 runs to beat them.Ishant Sharma was the pick of the bowlers for India who bowled a magical spell this morning. The line and length of his bowling was impeccable during the session of play. Makes me wonder why didn’t bend his back to get the bouncer right in the first innings? However, the wounded bowling attack didn’t have much to offer after Prior and Board started to play in shots to post a huge task for the Indians on day 4.
The English men declared at 269 for 6 and gave them a far chance for picking up early wickets with 27 overs to bowl for the day. The most resilient and the most dependable ‘The wall’ had to open the innings for India along with new comer Abhinav Mukund in the absence of Gautam Gambhir who had taken a hit by Prior’s sweep shot earlier in the day.
The early exit of Mukund brought the stylish and ever so cool Laxman on the crease to share an unbeaten partnership of 61 runs to sign off day 4 for India at 80 for the loss one wicket. India would play to save the game with wounded and battered players in the hut on day 5. The weather is forecasted to be sunny and it is going to be an exciting Day 5 for both the teams.
Wish Day 5 is a day that belongs to the Indian batsmen all the way!!!
Cheers...TRAK!
without Gambhir and only Sachin with fever we have only 50-50 chance and as the day goes by the chance will decrease. Everything now is with Dravid and VVS. I thought probably Dhoni should not have wasted much time with the spinners after lunch on Day 4. He should have brought in the fast bowlers. And oh!! we missed Zaheer much
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