India off to a slow start at Mohali Test

By IANS,

Mohali (Punjab) : India were off to a slow start, scoring 51 for the loss of one wicket at lunch on the first day of the second cricket Test against England at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) stadium here Friday.


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At break, Gautam Gambhir was batting on 35 and Rahul Dravid 11.

India faced early trouble after skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni chose to bat on winning the toss, with opener Virender Sehwag falling for a duck.

Sehwag, who helped India win the first Test at Chennai, was caught behind by Matt Prior off Stuart Broad in the second over of the match.

It was the fourth duck of Sehwag against England and he spent only 12 minutes on the crease.

Despite Sehwag’s early loss, Gautam Gambhir, who was on 35 off 72 deliveries at the break, showed no signs of getting bogged down.

Rahul Dravid, who contrary to speculation, came at one drop, batted cautiously in scoring 11 runs off 53 deliveries.

Fast bowler Broad, who returned to the England squad after an injury kept him out of the first Test, bowled a steady seven overs spell.

Earlier, the match started late by 20 minutes due to bad light and overcast conditions.

In the short span of 21 overs, England used all their five mainline bowlers.

Gambhir pounced on left-arm spinner Monty Panesar, who bowled the last over before lunch, hitting him for fours.

Dravid batted resolutely and looked in good nick as he pulled Anderson for a four.

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