BANGALORE
England have tightened their grip on the third and final Test against Indiadespite a series of rain delays at Bangalore, the longest of which wiped out theentire final session. India, 99 for 3 overnight, moved on to 218 for seven,still 118 runs behind with all their recognised batsmen gone. Ashley Gileseventually won a lengthy duel with Sachin Tendulkar, dismissing the Indianmaestro for 90, and Virender Sehwag is the last man out for an entertaining ifchancy 66. Matthew Hoggard, with three wickets, was England's bowling star.
Hoggard took two wickets in his first two overs after a delayed start thismorning. First Rahul Dravid's largely unproductive innings came to an end when aperfectly directed delivery moved away just enough to induce a faint edgethrough to Jamie Foster. Dravid's three runs had taken all of 73 minutes and 61balls to compile. India were in deeper trouble when Ganguly's poor run continuedas he edged another perfectly directed delivery to Mark Butcher at second slip.Virender Sehwag was then fortunate to survive as Andy Flintoff narrowly failedto scoop up an edge to third slip.
Advertisement
Sehwag was not in the least overawed by the situation as he made the most ofthe rare loose offerings from Hoggard, taking a boundary behind square as theYorkshireman strayed to leg, and then consecutive fours on the off-side, firstto third man and then through cover. But Sehwag played and missed often enoughto keep the bowlers interested, while at the other end Giles maintained hisleg-stump line as Tendulkar played him with watchful caution.
The tone changed, though, when Sehwag decided to go after Giles, and thecrowd roared their approval as he went down the pitch to hit the Warwickshireleft-armer over midwicket for four. Not to be outdone, Tendulkar emulated thestroke before sweeping Giles for another boundary in an over that eventuallycost 12 runs. But the change of policy ultimately failed him, as he gave Gilesthe charge in his next over, missed and was out stumped for the first time inhis meteoric Test career.
Advertisement
Unperturbed by Tendulkar's dismissal Sehwag continued to attack, smashing ashort ball from Hoggard through midwicket and taking Giles for consecutiveboundaries through midwicket and square leg. After a further rain delay hereached his first 50 against England, glancing White for a single. He thenresumed hostilities with Giles, reverse sweeping and pulling two delightfulboundaries. It was enough to persuade Nasser Hussain to take the new ball, whichhe gave to Flintoff and Hoggard after 81 overs.
An edged boundary from Sehwag prompted the posting of a third man, and toHoggard's frustration the batsman's charmed life continued when an inside edgeflew between bat and stumps to the rope at fine leg. It was just deserts forHoggard when another Sehwag edge finally went to hand, Foster taking the catchneatly, moving to his right. Tea was accompanied by the heaviest rain of the dayso far, which to England's frustration prevented any play in the final session.
