Karthik hits 91 as India make 316/4

By IANS

London : Dinesh Karthik narrowly missed his second Test century but still helped India reach a solid 316 for four wickets on the opening day of the third and final Test against England here Thursday.


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Makeshift opener Karthik scored a strokeful 91 (151 balls, 10x4s, 1×6) while captain Rahul Dravid (55, 101 balls, 8x4s) notched up his first half-century of the series, and the only the second of the day, to put the team on way to a huge total.

At stumps after the completion of 90 overs, Sachin Tendulkar was batting on 48 (132 balls, 5x4s), consisting of one ‘life’, and V.V.S. Laxman was on 20.

India are not only in a solid position, but they also scored at a brisk rate, 3.51 per over, on a perfect day for batting at Brit Kennigton Oval.

India, who lead the series 1-0 with their win in the second Test in Nottingham, need only a draw here to win their first Test series on English soil after 21 years. If they do so they will be the first winners of the newly instituted for Pataudi Trophy.

Earlier, Dravid won the second successive toss and opted to bat first on a sunny day.

Karthik and Jaffer (35, 47 balls, 6x4s, 1×6) gave India a good enough beginning worth 62 runs.

While Jaffer was his usual composed self, the bubbly Karthik was on his toes right away, playing shots all around the wicket.

Jaffer also played some flowing shots, including an ‘upper cut’, the now fashionable shot over the heads of the gully or point fielders, for a six. Pacer James Anderson finally had Jaffer caught by Kevin Pieterson.

Dravid then joined Karthik and two raised the highest stand of the day, 127 for the second wicket.

Dravid, who has failed to get going in the series, finally came good with a nice half-century, 48th of his illustrious career. He was eventually bowled by a perfectly pitched yorker by Anderson.

Soon after Dravid’s dismissal Karthik edged one from Ryan Sidebottom to wicket-keeper Matt Prior to be left stranded nine short of what would have been his second century in his 16th Test.

Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly also forged a fine alliance of 77 as they virtually dominated the English bowling attack that is without Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard, who all are injured.

Tendulkar was lucky to escape when at 20 as Prior dropped his catch off Sidebottom.

Ganguly’s innings (37, 77 balls, 4x4s, 1×6) ended in a tragic manner as umpire Ian Howell of South Africa failed to see an inside edged and declared him leg before the wicket off Paul Collingwood.

Ganguly, who was looking well set and had played some sweetly timed strokes, left the crease sporting a wry smile and shaking his head.

During his unbeaten knock of 20, Laxman completed 5,000 runs in the 134th innings of his 83 Test match.

Earlier, India retained the XI that won the second Test by seven wickets in Nottingham to take a 1-0 lead. England also reposed faith in the same team.

SCOREBOARD

Day 1, Third Test, India vs. England, Brit Kennigton Oval, London

India (1st innings):
Dinesh Karthik c Prior b Sidebottom 91
Wasim Jaffer c Pietersen b Anderson 35
Rahul Dravid b Anderson 55
Sachin Tendulkar batting 48
Sourav Ganguly lbw b Collingwood 37
V.V.S. Laxman 20
Extras: (byes 21, leg byes 2, wides 2, no balls 5) 30
Total: (for four wickets in 90 overs) 316

Fall of wickets: 1-62 (Jaffer, 14.4 overs), 2-189 (Dravid, 48.1), 3-199 (Karthik, 51.1), 4-276 (Ganguly, 79.5)

Bowling:
Ryan Sidebottom 25 5 75 1
James Anderson 20 5 83 2 (1w)
Chris Tremlett 23 4 60 0 (4nb, 1w)
Monty Panesar 19 2 71 0
Paul Collingwood 3 1 4 1 (1nb)

Umpires: Steve Bucknor (Australia) and Ian Howell (South Africa)
TV umpire: Peter Hartley (England)
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka)

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