Story India's Journey To World Cup 2011 [Commonwealth Bank Series 2010]

[Dutchmen]

Good fifty from Dravid, that made India are on command position. that sehwag wicket was so vital for English. there need to build partnership, and Tendulkar is quite playing gradually.

 

[Gaurav_7]

Aditya, can you please add at the bottom info about the session, day, etc. of the test? Would make it easier for people who have missed this.

 

[Aditya]

Aditya, can you please add at the bottom info about the session, day, etc. of the test? Would make it easier for people who have missed this.

Added.

 

[Varun]

If Sachin gets a ton, then this game is India's.

 

[Aditya]

India In England
India vs England
Npower Test Series : 4th Test Match
Played at The Brit Oval

Players came to the field to start the match after tea. Sachin was looking good at the crease before tea. Laxman had just come to the crease. So, Laxman needs some time to settle. Indian fans were hoping for a big innings from Sachin but that was not the case. Onions bowled a good length delivery, Sachin tried to smash it on off side but the ball went straight to Collingwood at point and Sachin got out for 39.

Next batsman who came to bat was Suresh Raina. Raina started positively. Raina was playing his normal innings which is to rotate the strike and put bad balls away for boundaries. Laxman on other hand was looking good. Laxman was just getting settled at the crease and started playing his shots. Raina got a start but then lost his wicket when Raina was on 26. Onions bowled a full length delivery, Raina thought that ball will not swing so he thought to leave the ball but surprisingly the ball got in swing and Raina was bowled. Raina stood at the pitch for a minute and then disappointingly went to the pavilion.

Next batsman who came to bat was Indian captain, MS Dhoni. Dhoni knew that now India should not loose any wicket till stump on day 1. Dhoni played safely and avoided taking any risk. Laxman on other hand played his shots and reached to his well made fifty. After reaching to his fifty, Laxman started to avoid taking any risk and basically rotated the strike. Laxman and Dhoni did well to make sure that India loose no more wickets till the end of day 1. All the 90 overs were bowled on day 1 and then the umpires decided to end the day 1 of the 4th Npower test match ended.

IND : 336/5
VVS.Laxman 67(134)
MS.Dhoni 17(41)
Last Wicket : S.Raina : 26(43)
4th Npower Test Match, Stumps, day 1

 

[AkshayS]

That sucks by a mile.
A collapse I would say, 500 looks out of sight. VVS is playing a good knock but I don't think India will go any way past 420.

 

[Aditya]

India In England
India vs England
Npower Test Series : 4th Test Match
Played at The Brit Oval

2 Indian batsmen, Laxman and Dhoni came to the field on day 2 of 4th Npower test match with all the guns blazing. Dhoni was not taking any kind of risk on day 1 but on day 2 he completely changed his tactics and started to play attacking cricket. Laxman on other hand was playing freely and was looking good at the crease for a big innings. England captain, Andrew Strauss was desperate for a wicket. Strauss knew that a partnership is building so he brought spinners into the bowling attack, Swann and Pietersen.

But the plan didn?t work. Laxman and Dhoni both played the spinners in the same way they were playing fast bowlers. Laxman though was playing a lot more attackingly against spinners. Laxman was timing the ball extremely well and was finding the gaps easily. Dhoni on other hand was taking quick singles and smashing bad balls away for boundaries. Soon, Dhoni reached to his well made fifty and the crowd applauded his knock. Typical Dhoni knock. 50 off just 77 balls. :banana

Strauss saw that his plan of bringing spinners into the bowling attack is not working so he replaced Pietersen with Broad but decided to let Swann bowl few more overs. Broad came to the bowling attack and gave away 16 runs in his very first over on day 2. Laxman was on 87 before the over of Broad and Laxman in the Broad over smashed 2 sixes and one boundary and reached his well made century. :happy

Laxman was not able to do anything special after making his century as he departed for 115. Strauss saw that Swann is not able to take a wicket so he brought Onions into the bowling attack. Onions first few overs proved to be expensive but then he got wicket of Laxman. Onions bowled a good length delivery, Laxman tried to smash it on off side but complete misjudged the ball and was bowled. But we have to say that a very good innings from Very Very Special, Laxman.

Next batsman Harbhajan was not able to do anything special as he got out for a duck. Zaheer was the next batsman. Strauss thought that he can get few more wickets because now the tail is coming to bat so he replaced Broad because of his 16 runs expensive over. Broad was replaced by Anderson. Dhoni had a quick chat with Zaheer and the play continued. Not much time was left for lunch. So, Dhoni avoided taking any risk. Zaheer did well to say at the crease till lunch and India lost no more wickets till lunch.

England has managed to take 2 Indian wickets in this 1st session of day 2. But Laxman and Dhoni played attacking cricket and made sure that India reached to a good 1st innings total. It would be interesting to see how the match goes after lunch.

IND : 472/7
MS Dhoni : 86*(135)
Zaheer Khan : 10*(35)
Last Wicket : Harbhajan Singh 0(2)
James Anderon?33?4-109-2
Graham Onions-25-3-75-4

 

[AkshayS]

Very well played Laxxy and Dhoni, India in command now, they can build much pressure on England if they will be able to pick early wickets. ATM, Dhoni should first reach his century and then focus on some quick runs to 550 or something.

Good writeup and presentation Adi.

 

[surendar]

India's RR seems great to me despite this being a test match. India's 330+ in first day reminds me Aussies' 400 on Day 1.

By the way, very late congrads for PC awards, Aditya. :hpraise You deserve it.

 

[Dutchmen]

You have made some silly grammar mistakes. nothing much say, Dhoni and Laxman innings were quite good.

 

[deathrevenge9]

Your story is really good Adi and it has become the first story which I will be following .

 

[Aditya]

India In England
India vs England
Npower Test Series : 4th Test Match
Played at The Brit Oval

Players came to the field to start the match after lunch. Zaheer Khan was a lot more attacking after lunch. Zaheer played few big strokes but then gave away his wicket. Pietersen was bowling; Zaheer tried to defend the ball but got a thick edge onto the ball and Prior made no mistake in taking the catch. Dhoni on other hand after Zaheer?s wicket started taking risks and reached his well made century. :happy

After reaching to his century, Dhoni was not able to really go on and do anything special as he got out for 103. Anderson was bowling, Anderson bowled a good length delivery, Dhoni tried to smash it straight but didn?t time it well enough to clear the distance and got caught out. Last batsman Ojha was not able to do anything special as he got caught out for 0. Anderson was bowling, Anderson bowled a short delivery, Ojha tried to smash it on leg side but got bottom edge of the bat and Strauss took a good catch at 3rd man.

India?s final score was 503. A good 1st innings total from India! It should be interesting to see how England plays in their 1st innings. England has some really talented batsman in their side and if any one of them gets going then we might see England making a good 1st innings total as well. This match is really turning out to be interesting!

 

[surendar]

Lol @ Zaheer His slogging did not give him success against a part-timer I have a feeling that, this match will go for a draw from the way Indians have batted. Lets see how it goes.

 

[hedger_14]

A bottom edge carries down to third man

Anyway, nice update and a good total posted by India.

 

[Bevab]

A bottom edge carries down to third man

Anyway, nice update and a good total posted by India.

Thats because Ashes Cricket has weird graphics. Nice work there Aditya.