India Closed First Inngs At 224

India limps to 205/8 at tea

AP Virender Sehwag leaves the field after losing his wicket to England's Stuart Broad, not pictured, on the first day of the third test match at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Birmingham, England on Wednesday.

 

Put into bat, India were struggling at 205 for eight in their first innings on the opening day of the third cricket Test against England here today.

Brief scores:

India first innings: 205 for eight in 56 overs (MS Dhoni batting 61, Gautam Gambhir 38, VVS Laxman 30; Tim Bresnan 4/62, Stuart Broad 3/47).

Lunch report:

Stuart Broad and Tim Bresnan wreaked havoc with two wickets apiece as India found themselves tottering at 75 for four at lunch on the opening day of the third cricket Test against England here today.

Openers Gautam Gambhir (38) and Virender Sehwag (0) as well as Sachin Tendulkar (1) and Rahul Dravid (22) were sent packing early as India’s top—order floundered once again in the face of some hostile pace bowling by the English seamers.

India appeared to have overcome the early dismissal of Sehwag when Gambhir and Dravid were at the crease but disaster struck when the left—hander, after facing 64 balls, played on to a Bresnan delivery with the score at 59 for one.

Not just that, the visitors were in for more trouble as Broad induced an edge from Tendulkar. India suffered their biggest blow when Bresnan dismissed the in—form Dravid with a peach of a delivery which straightned after landing in the last over before the lunch break.

In the final half an hour’s play, India could add only 16 runs from 40 balls for the loss of three wickets.

Earlier after losing a crucial toss under overcast conditions, India suffered a a big blow when opener Sehwag was dismissed off the first ball he faced from Broad, caught behind by Matt Prior.

Sehwag was initially given a reprieve by Steve Davis but England captain Andrew Strauss asked for a review which showed the ball had flicked the gloves of the right—hander even as he tried to keep his bat down to a lifting delivery.

Gambhir, though, quickly seized back the initiative with some attacking strokeplay, matched in intent by Dravid as India looked to hit their way out of trouble.

The left—hander was productive from the start itself as he steered James Anderson past slip and then flicked him for two boundaries in the first over.

Gambhir was not yet through with Anderson as in subsequent overs, he cover drove and flicked him again for fours.

Dravid, aware that England bowlers would bowl full to induce an edge, came right forward to off—drive Broad and then hit him gloriously through the covers for yet another boundary.

When the first drinks arrived, India were 47 for 1 with Gambhir on 34 and Dravid on 13.

Dravid brought up the fifty of the innings when he came right forward to needle a drive off Broad between mid—off and cover fielder.

Under the overcast conditions, England seamers managed to gain considerable movement through the air but unlike the previous two Tests, the turf here is slowish in nature.

Dravid once survived a confident leg—before shout against Broad and the same bowler had Gambhir edging a catch in front of Kevin Petersen at gully.

Gambhir finally departed, dragging a Bresnan delivery which sent his leg stump flying in the air. Gambhir batted for 89 minutes and negotiated 64 deliveries, hitting seven fours.

It brought Tendulkar into the middle with a standing ovation from the near—packed stands and swing bowler James Anderson was immediately recalled to test him out.

Anderson, who now has got Tendulkar seven times in Tests, nearly brought the downfall of the master batsman when he nipped back a delivery and it beat his defensive prod to sail over the stumps.

Anderson though did end up having a hand in Tendulkar’s dismissal when a full—pitched Broad’s delivery took the edge of his bat and went straight to him at third slip.

Dravid departed off the last ball before the lunch break to an outstanding delivery from Bresnan which shaped in and then left him to hit his off—stump.

At the break, VVS Laxman was holding one end up for 13 runs.

Brief scores:

India first innings : 75 for four in 26.2 overs (Gautam Gambhir 38, Rahul Dravid 22, Tim Bresnan 2/13, Stuart Broad 2/32).