da imperador bet： India reduced England to 298 all out in the second day at Lord’s but lost crucial wickets in reply, including Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar, as James Anderson impressed with the ball
The Bulletin by Andrew McGlashan20-Jul-2007
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
James Anderson produced a superb piece of bowling to remove Rahul Dravid © Getty Images
Unexpected turn of events cropped up everywhere on the second day atLord’s. When the ground resembled a lake shortly after midday any playappeared a remote possibility but, after the drainage system workedits magic, the Test took a dramatic twist as India sparked a collapseof 6 for 26. However, England’s green attack more than held theirown, with James Anderson removing Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkarwhile Chris Tremlett impressed on debut.For those spectators who hung around during the morning monsoon theaction was worth the wait. Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth did the bulk ofthe damage as England’s innings, which resumed on a healthy 268 for 4,subsided in less than 11 overs. Although it was a rapid slide, therewas still time for some controversy involving Kevin Pietersen, whowalked for an edge to MS Dhoni before turning around halfway back tothe pavilion after Steve Bucknor asked Simon Taufel whether theball carried. TV replays reprieved Pietersen but two balls later another edge brought his downfall and India burst through.The bowlers continued to hold sway when India replied with RyanSidebottom striking back for England, trapping Dinesh Karthiklbw after troubling him with swing. He should have removed WasimJaffer in his second over but Matt Prior went one-handed to anoutside edge and shelled the chance in front of first slip. Jaffer wason one at the time and he carefully held India together with a watchfullyconstructive half-century.It was a distinctly old-fashioned innings and, after passing fifty from100 balls, he made eight from his next 56. The pressure created byTremlett and some clever field settings resulted in his downfall – aleading edge back to the bowler who moved well for someone so injury prone and held the catch low in his follow-through.Dravid, on the ground where he made his debut in 1996, was removed bya perfect outswinger from the impressive Anderson as England liftedtheir spirits before tea. Anderson is in his first Test since Januaryat Sydney and produced his most consistent display in England colours fora long time. He probed with his late swing, maintained decent paceand deserved the scalp of Tendulkar, who was trapped by the inswingerwhich Anderson has spent a lot of time perfecting with Lancashire.
Sreesanth was impressive with his swing as England collapsed © Getty Images
Tendulkar registered his best Test score at Lord’s but was still along way short of putting his name on the honours board. He begancautiously as Tremlett produced an encouraging first spell in Testcricket but was beginning to increase his tempo when he was caught onthe crease by Anderson. The third of India’s big three, SouravGanguly, survived until the end although he came close to findinggully with a cut shot that Ian Bell couldn’t leap high enough to catch.Whereas England chipped away the Indian bowling display was asdramatic as the thunderstorm that crashed over Lord’s earlier in theday. Another amazing mopping-up operation by the Lord’s ground staffagain showed the value of the drainage system as on most other groundsthere would have been no chance of play.There was a noticeable bounce in India’s step as RP Singh cleaned upSidebottom, the nightwatchman, in the first over with the new ballbefore the extraordinary passage of play involving Pietersen. AfterIndia’s disappointment turned to ecstasy in the space of a few momentsthere was no stopping them as Zaheer and Sreesanth were a combinationtransformed from the poor opening-day effort.With Prior at No.8 because of the nightwatchman, England’s batting wasdeep but India continued their resurgence through a double-wicketmaiden from Sreesanth. He trapped Prior playing across the line and,three balls later, had Tremlett stone dead for a duck. Monty Panesarfell in similar circumstances, caught on the crease as the ball swungback late into the pads. Sreesanth produced the late swing that hadmade him a threat in South Africa last year and all the Indian bowlershad learnt from their failings on the first day.During the collapse Bell watched from the other end, unable to do muchfor England’s cause. Everything had appeared much rosier when hecaressed his first delivery straight down the ground but he completedthe rapid demise by chopping Zaheer into his stumps. Englandbrushed themselves down, though, and an inexperienced attack performed aboveexpectations to set up a fascinating weekend.