India v England, 2nd Test, India won the Test-Series after boring draw
December 23, 2008
India 453 (Gambhir 179, Dravid 136) and 251 for 7 (Gambhir 97, Yuvraj 86) drew with England 302 (Pietersen 144, Flintoff 62, Cook 50, Harbhajan 4-68) and 64 for 1.
As expected, the Mohali Test ended as a draw with G Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh had some batting practice (but pointless batting practice) on the final day. Both Gambhir and Yuvraj missed out their centuries before the Indian declaration. India put a hypothetical 403 target before England which was logically, impossible in 44 overs to chase.
Ishant Sharma dismissed Alastair Cook for 10, after England batsmen Ian Bell and Andrew Strauss did not any success to Indians further. As they batted till the end of the Test.
The fourth innings was appeared like a formal innings at one stage. Cook notched Ishant Sharma to VVS Laxman at second slip, and an out-of-form batsman Bell poked and nudged, shuffled and swayed against pace and spin to escort Strauss. The match was closing into a circus when Dhoni brought himself on for the bowling. After that both umpires called off play.
Recommencing on 134 for 4, India appended 82 without excitement in a reduced 13-over morning session after chunky fog postponed play for two-and-a-half hours. Gambhir and Yuvraj started carefully before opening up with a range of destructive strokes, Yuvraj hit gorgeous three sixes.
At lunch, Indian run rate was good over six and the way Yuvraj, specially, and Gambhir were batting. After the lunch interval England bowlers picked up three wickets.
India's judgment to bat after lunch will illustrate plenty of debate. The two set batsmen Gambhir and Yuvraj continued their batting to pursue their individual records.
At last, neither Gambhir nor Yuvraj reached landmarks. India managed just 35 runs in the last 10 overs. After the thrilling win in Chennai, it was the weather conditions, finally, dictated the result of this 2nd Test.
Kevin Pietersen scored 1000 runs in 2008, the ninth to do so, and the first England player. He's attained the spot for the third successive year.
Pietersen scored 144 runs. He played the spinners well, mainly Harbhajan Singh, (39 in 42 @ strike-rate 92.85). Amit Mishra (34 in 53). But Pietersen played Yuvraj Singh very carefully, scored only (3 off 17).
Pietersen and Flintoff were engaged in a century (149-run) partnership for the second time. Flintoff scored 62 with 6 boundaries and a six. England bowlers Flintoff, Swann and Panesar were succeeded in picking up Indian batsmen. Flintoff and Swann took 3 wickets each as Panesar picked 2.
Indian Bowlers Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh picked 3 each and Mishra took 2 wickets.
