Zeenews Bureau
Chennai, Dec 15: Riding on the masterly century of Sachin Tendulkar, India romped home in the first Test of the RBS Cup with six wickets in hand. India now lead the two Test series 1-0. India chased 387 runs in the fourth innings to go one up in the series and this becomes the fourth highest score that has been chased in the history of Test cricket.
Apart from Tendulkar it was Sehwag’s bombardment, Gambhir’s sensibility and Yuvraj’s composure that took the game away from England. Sehwag had set the pace for the ‘great Indian chase’ while Gambhir hung in there after his partner’s departure to build a partnership with Sachin. Yuvraj came in after Laxman’s departure and scored when India needed him the most.
Just after the tea break, Yuvraj Singh batted his way to his fourth Test fifty. He played with maturity and provided the support that Tendulkar needed to take India home. A gritty and determined innings is what can describe Yuvraj’s effort in this Test match.
Tea
Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh had ensured that there was no further loss of wickets till tea on day 5. Both the batsmen batted elegantly to take the Indian total past 300 runs and thus within sniffing distance of a historic victory.
Sachin Tendulkar played an anchor role and went on to craft a magnificent half century, his 52nd in Test cricket. He also joined hands with Yuvraj Singh to take the Indian total past the 250 run mark thereby bringing the runs required below 150. When on 56, The Master blaster also became the third batsman after Gautam Gambhir and Indian captain MS Dhoni to accumulate 1000 runs in this calendar year.
India posted a total in excess of 300 in the fourth innings only the fifth time.
Earlier, VVS Laxman had fallen prey to the impressive debutant Graeme Swann for a score of 26. Laxman was caught at short leg by Ian Bell. He, along with Sachin had put up a 43 run partnership for the fourth wicket that had brought the runs required below the 200 run mark. At lunch India needed 174 to win the Test.
Lunch
The first session of the final day saw India accumulate 84 runs at a run rate of approximately 3.5. England had the reason to celebrate too with Dravid falling early in the day and Gambhir falling prey to Anderson’s angle. India were 215 for the loss of three wickets at lunch on day 5.
England had tasted blood early on the fifth and final day of the RBA Cup at the MA Chidambaram Stadium as Andrew Flintoff gave India the first jolt of the morning when he induced Rahul Dravid to edge a beautiful outgoing delivery into the hands of wicketkeeper Matt Prior. Dravid’s poor run continued as he could manage only 4 runs off 19 deliveries.
Gautam Gambhir had brought up his 8th fifty in Tests but perished soon to James Anderson. An angling delivery had the left hander pushing for it only to be caught by Collingwood at gully. Gambhir scored 66 to give India some hope of crossing the finish line.
In the last session of Day 4, Virender Sehwag’s blitzkrieg and Gambhir’s cautious approach saw India finish the day at a commanding 131 for the loss of just one wicket. Sehwag had blasted his way to 83 runs off just 68 balls, an innings that consisted of 11 hits to the fence and 4 towering sixes.
First Published: Monday, December 15, 2008, 00:00