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Last Updated: Nov 2nd, 2009 - 17:32:57 |
MOHALI, India (Reuters) - England's bowlers pegged back a defensive India by reducing the hosts to 134 for four in the second innings on the fourth day of the second and final test on Monday.
India held a 285-run lead at the close, batting cautiously after early setbacks. Opener Gautam Gambhir was 44 not out, after scoring a measly 18 runs in the final session of 25 overs, with Yuvraj Singh on a breezy 39.
"The partnership between me and Gautam has opened up the game towards us," Yuvraj told reporters. "We will see tomorrow, chasing any target on the last day is always tough."
Spinner Harbhajan Singh took four wickets to help dismiss England for 302 in the morning and hand India a 151-run lead. India scored 453 in their first innings, having won the first test in Chennai by six wickets.
England new ball bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad rattled the top order in the post-lunch session and two run outs reduced the innings to 80 for four after tea.
India managed just 47 runs from 23 overs in the afternoon after Virender Sehwag (17), Rahul Dravid (0) and Sachin Tendulkar (5) fell cheaply in the space of 15 runs.
Vangipurappu Laxman was then run out for 15 after a mix-up with Gambhir.
RISKY SINGLE.
Sehwag added 29 runs with Gambhir, who top-scored with 179 in the first innings, before Ian Bell at mid-off ran him out with a diving attempt at the non-striker's end after he went for a risky single.
Broad, picked ahead of the experienced Steve Harmison for the game, bowled a well-pitched incoming delivery to bowl Dravid, who hit 136 in the first innings.
"We had to keep the runs down, didn't want them to be pushing on," Broad said. "It is a different ball game when the ball is moving laterally.
"We made it difficult for them to score fast without taking risks."
Anderson, replacing Broad for a fresh spell after bowling four maiden overs in a row from the other end, had Tendulkar caught by Graeme Swann at gully as he drove uppishly.
Andrew Flintoff then beat Laxman with a slick throw from cover following a mix-up with Gambhir.
Yuvraj, who scored a match-winning 85 not out in Chennai, hit left-arm spinner Monty Panesar for four fours and a six towards the end of play.
Harbhajan dismissed Matt Prior (2) and Broad (1) in his first two overs after England had resumed on 282 for six in the morning following a two-hour delay caused by fog over the ground.
He also dismissed last man Monty Panesar (5) to claim four for 68 as England were dismissed close to lunch. Left-arm Zaheer Khan bowled Graeme Swann (3), finishing with three for 76.
Harbhajan had sparked the England batting slump overnight when he dismissed skipper Kevin Pietersen for a masterful 144.
The off spinner has tallied 63 test wickets this year, one behind the leader, South African paceman Dale Steyn.
Pietersen stroked his 15th test century, and raised century partnerships with opener Alastair Cook (50) and all rounder Flintoff (62).
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