By Alkesh Sharma, IANS,
Mohali : India won the two-match RBS Cup Series against England 1-0 after the mild winter sun and dense fog forced the second Test to end in a draw at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium here Tuesday.
Chasing a winning target of 403 on the fifth day, England were 64 for one in the second innings with Andrew Strauss (21) and Ian Bell (24) remaining after India declared their second innings at 251 for seven. India made 453 in the first innings and then bowled out England for 302.
The draw was very much on the cards after a delayed start to the final day by two and a half hours owing to thick fog. The fourth innings turned out to be a formality.
Gautam Gambhir (97) and Yuvraj Singh (86) scored briskly and knitted a 153-run stand for the fourth wicket to carry India to a formidable position after a shaky start.
Gambhir, who scored a hundred in the first innings, was adjudged the Man of the Match, while fast bowler Zaheer Khan bagged the Man of the Series trophy with eight wickets.
Resuming at the overnight score of 134 for four, Gambhir and Yuvraj made their intentions clear by going on the offensive. Graeme Swann particularly came in for a harsh treatment, the off-spinner’s fifth over going for 12 runs.
Yuvraj pounced on Stuart Broad in the eleventh over of the day refreshing the images of his Durban feat of six sixes off the fast bowler. He hit the 22-year-old bowler for two sixes off consecutive deliveries. By lunch, India’s run rate for the morning was over six an over.
Yuvraj was first to go in the second session, run out by a direct hit from Bell. Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni returned without opening his account. Gambhir again became the victim of nervous nineties and was caught superbly by Bell at backward point off Swann.
When England went in, Cook nicked Ishant Sharma to V.V.S. Laxman at second slip, and an out-of-form Bell played and missed to accompany Strauss to the close.
To have a share of fun, Dhoni brought himself on to bowl after which the play was called off.