India v England: England trounce India in the 2000th Test

Match Report - 1st Test (Test # 2000): England v India (Pataudi Trophy), Lord's, London, 21-25 July 2011

Rarely has a Test match got so many historic tags as this one between world’s top two teams. Apart from being 2000th Test, this happend to be the 100th Test between the sides. But the real hype and tremendous excitement in Duncan Fletcher’s 100th Test as coach was because Tendulkar was on 99 international hundreds, one short of a ton of tons. England played far better than India, hence came out triamphed late on the final day.

Day 1:

The match started about half an hour late due to early morning drizzle. Crucially, M S Dhoni won the toss and opted to field under the gloom. Zaheer Khan returned to the side but Yuvraj Singh could not make it, in-form Suresh Raina being preferred over him. Gautam Gambhir returned to partner with Abhinav Mukund at the top, as Sehwag has been ruled out for first two Tests. For England, despite doubts over his form Stuart Broad kept his place over Tim Bresnan.

Stumps were called as recurrent rain cut short the day. The much-hyped first day of a landmark Test proved to be a disappointing anticlimax.

Summarized scores:

England 127/2 (Trott 58*, Pietersen 22*; Zaheer 2/18)

Read more ... Rain waters down the hype on first day at Lords

Day 2:

Kevin Pietersen lit up the Lords’ ground with atrocious stroke play as England piled up a strong first innings score. The weather today was perfect for batting as a depleted Indian attack, although lead admirably by persistent Praveen Kumar, kept searching for wickets all day. The wickets did come by but not at the cost which India would have liked.

Summarized scores:

India 17/0 trail by 457 runs with 10 wickets remaining against England 474/8 (Pietersen 202*, Prior 71; P Kumar 5/106, Zaheer 2/18)

Read more ... Magical Pietersen powers England to strong position

Day 3:

At the end of the third day’s play India was still chasing England despite Dravid’s moment of redemption. In 1996 Dravid was the last man out in his debut Test at the same venue, a match which was lit up by Saurav Ganguly’s debut hundred. It was Broad, reluctantly chosen over Bresnan, who broke the back of Indian batting line up.

Stuart Broad was unlucky not to have taken more than 4 for 37. England saw off the five overs left in the day unharmed. A decisive day looms ahead as England would try to pile on, while India would try to limit the 4th innings target hoping their trump card Zaheer Khan is fit enough.

Summarized scores:

England 474/8 and 5/0 lead India 286 (Dravid 103*, Mukund 49; Broad 4/37, Tremlett 3/80) by 193 runs with 10 wickets remaining

Read more ... Dravid helps India avoid follow-on


Day 4:

The day started with expectation of an England declaration and the talk was centered on the possible fourth innings target India would get. The declaration eventually did come, thanks to a heroic face-saving knock from Matt Prior, but only after the Indian attack sans Zaheer Khan had given England a scare early on the 4th morning.
With Dravid looking solid and Laxman well set, made known by three classy fours in a Tremlett over, India will hope these two come up with something special come the final day.

Summarized scores:

India 80/1 and 286 trail England 474/8 and 269/6 (Prior 10-3*, Broad 74*; Ishant Sharma 4/59) by 378 runs with 9 wickets remaining

Read more ... England on course after Prior counter attack


Day 5: Anderson routs India as England win

A landmark Test needed a fitting finale but it was not to be. England had 98 overs at their disposal to beat World’s number one Test team and to go 1-0 up, while a bruised India had pride at stake. In the end, England lead by Anderson proved a far better side as they beat India comprehensively by 196 runs.

India, starting sedately, were reprieved by England when Ian Bell dropped a difficult catch to give Dravid a life. But the miss did not cost England, as Jimmy Anderson got rid of the ‘Wall’ with a regulation edge to the keeper. Next man out was Laxman for 56, who like first innings fell while attempting a pull and Anderson was ecstatic again, as his hard work was finally paying off. India was soon gasping for air at 135 for 4 when Gautam Gambhir, batting at number 4 due to an elbow injury, was given out LBW to a Swann slider. It was, yet another, brilliant decision by Asad Rauf.

Tendulkar, who came into the Test hoping to get his 100th international ton, could not bear the brunt, as after surviving twice he fell LBW to Anderson for just 12. Suresh Raina and captain MS Dhoni put up a fight and when they left for tea, India needed to survive 40 more overs with 5 wickets in hand. It was crucial for these two to hang around for as long as they could.

Raina dominated the 60-run partnership as Dhoni tried to do a rearguard action. But he got himself out when he poked at a rising Tremlett delivery. The new ball had done the trick and England were in the Indian tail. Harbhajan survived a drop and a plumb LBW missed by Billy Bowden, both off Broad, but then was bounced out by Anderson. After Broad had accounted for Kumar, Anderson put the final nail in the coffin by removing the stubborn Raina for 78 which included 10 hits to the boundary. He has ensured that Yuvraj is kept of the Indian Test side for the moment.

Broad ended Indian innings by trapping Ishant in front, prompting wild celebrations from England. They had done remarkably well to rout the most cherished batting line up on a playable 5th-day wicket. India could only make 261 as Jimmy Anderson put his hand up and got his name on the Honours board.

Kevin Pietersen was the Man of the Match for his brilliant double hundred. England will be relieved to start off so well, but Indians need to regroup themselves quickly otherwise the number one spot is in serious danger.

Summarized Scores:

England 474/8 (Pietersen 202, Praveen Kumar 5/106) and 269/6 dec (Prior 103*, Ishant Sharma 4/59) beat India 286/10 (Dravid 103*, Broad 4/37) and 261/10 (Raina 78, Anderson 5/65) by 196 runs

England lead the series 1-0, with 3 matches to go

Man of the Match: Kevin Pietersen

Toss: Won by India, who chose to field

Umpires: Asad Rauf and Billy Bowden