Keen Contest On The Cards

AHMEDABAD

A final day of infinite possibility was set up when England were bowled outin their second innings for 257. The foundation of the total was a centurysecond-wicket partnership between Mark Butcher and Nasser Hussain before aflurry of wickets as batsmen went for quick runs left India requiring 374 to winin a minimum of 97 overs. There could be some tense cricket before this match isconsigned to the record books.

So many elements had to be considered in the equation that would havedetermined a possible declaration by Hussain. The lead, time available, adeteriorating pitch all came into it. So too did the Tendulkar factor. If anyonecould render careful calculations useless it is India's master batsman. Nowonder the England captain allowed his second innings to run its course.

The day began with England 131 runs in front with ten wickets standing. Sixruns had been added to that lead when the first wicket fell, Marcus Trescothickclipping Javagal Srinath to mid-wicket where Shiv Sunder Das got both hands tothe catch.

Butcher was not in the best of health, but he bravely battled against bothhis own discomfort and the strictures imposed by the Indian bowlers. He offereda very difficult return catch to Anil Kumble that was grassed.

Progress was slow as India's two most experienced bowlers, Srinath and Kumbletightened their hold. It was nearly half an hour before Hussain could get offthe mark. Having opened the face to tantalise both the 'keeper and slip, thistime he steered it down to the third man boundary.

For some reason, Sourav Ganguly kept Harbhajan Singh out of the attack, evenwhen obliged to make a change. Tinu Yohannan came on and figures of 4-0-25-0tell their own story. The pressure had been released to allow the England secondwicket pair to expand their ambition.

Only after lunch, taken at 97 for 1, did the two spinners bowl in tandem. Bythen, however, the batsmen were set. Butcher reached fifty from 114 balls. Thefirst hundred partnership for the second wicket in Tests on this ground wasposted. Hussain gave Ganguly a chance at mid-wicket on which he scarcely laid ahand. When Harbhajan Singh so nearly got through Butcher's defences next balland then saw Deep Dasgupta drop an edge off the next, it would have taken a hardman not to sympathise with the bowler's almost frightening dismay.

However, it was not long before he had the England captain in his bag.Hussain had just reached fifty when he pushed firmly forward to be taken atshort leg. He should probably have departed earlier when padding up to a Kumblegoogly that would surely have hit. Ian Robinson might apologise to the bowlerwhen he sees the replay. In fact, for his own peace of mind, it might be as wellif the umpire misses the replays. He gave Craig White not out when caught off abat/pad that went to slip off the same bowler.

At the fall of Hussain's wicket, Mark Ramprakash came in, hoisted two sixesoff Kumble, and went out, caught on the forty-five off the back of the batsweeping. Andrew Flintoff struck one four and then played on when attempting tocut Kumble's googly six minutes before tea.

There was still time for Butcher's fine innings to come to an end before theinterval. A ball from Harbhajan Singh turned a little but bounced more andButcher edged to slip – out for a patient 92 when so close to a rest thatwould no doubt have heralded a century.

White and Michael Vaughan went into their shells after tea. Thirty balls wentby before a run came from the bat as the game almost ground to a halt. Hussainhad a run and time target in mind, while the bowlers had neither the means northe inclination to make something happen until there was some compliance fromthe batsmen.

At the given time, it was mayhem. White was run out before James Foster,Ashley Giles, Richard Dawson and Matthew Hoggard all thrashed catches into thesky or the outfield leaving Vaughan 31 not out. The scene was set.

Das and Dasgupta might not have enjoyed the prospect of seven overs beforethe close, but they coped admirably with an opening attack of Hoggard and,interestingly, Giles. Dawson had one over, but there were few alarms. There willundoubtedly be some before events are done and dusted on the final day.

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